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 "Parents can make a difference. Your kid may be mad now, but they will thank you later."
— Kate, 19-year-old college student

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Helping a Kid Who’s Not Your Own

Talking With Parents

It is important that you express your concern for the teen both “on and off the field” and both “in and out of the classroom.” You and the teen should sit with the parents or caregivers and explain the facts. Offer them information on teen drug use—the same information that you used to educate yourself. Suggest resources in the community where they can turn for help. Explain the consequences for using drugs or alcohol to the parents, caregivers, and the teen. Be there to answer questions or provide resources.

Prepare ahead of time in case the conversation goes off track. It’s important that you recognize that parents might be part of the problem, not just enabling, but dealing or providing drugs and alcohol in some cases. This won’t be an easy conversation—for you or the teen or the family. But, you may just help the teen to re-think his or her choices and stop drug use before the consequences become deadly.

When a child uses drugs, the entire family is affected by it. In most cases, families don’t want to believe that their child could be involved in something illegal. Denial plays a big role in substance abuse and addiction and no parent wants to face the fact that their son or daughter is using drugs or alcohol.

For more information on helping children of substance abusers visit the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

1. 1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiological Survey, NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM
2. SAMHSA

For more information, download the brochure, "When It's Not Your Kid — How Do You Deal With Drug Use and Drinking?" (PDF).