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 "Let them know that you are always there for them no matter what. It means alot. It may seem like we're not listening but we really are."
— Anonymous teen

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Helping a Kid Who’s Not Your Own

Why Should I Care?
Most adults agree that any drug use by teens is risky and can lead to serious trouble. And today kids are using drugs and alcohol at a much younger age, when their brains and bodies are still developing. Drug and alcohol use can interfere with teens' independence and their efforts to establish their own identity. It can change the direction of a young person’s life—physically, emotionally, and behaviorally. You are in a unique position to lend a hand.

Research has shown that using alcohol (which is illegal in the United States for people under the age of 21) or drugs such as marijuana have negative consequences for teens. What was once excused as a “rite of passage” for some teens is now shown to have harmful and sometimes permanent effects. Treatment for marijuana use is the number one reason kids get admitted to treatment programs—more than for all other drugs combined.

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