Communicate. Keep communication channels open with your teen. Adolescents closely connected to their parents are less likely to drink, use drugs or have sex. Parental disapproval of drug use also deters teens from using.

Be Firm in Setting Rules and Consequences. Clearly state to your teens that drugs are not acceptable and that you would be disappointed if they started using drugs. Let your teens know the consequences of drug use, especially marijuana. Explain that marijuana use interferes with their concentration, memory, and motor skills, and that it interferes with motivation, leads to poorer school performance, and can cause users to disappoint the people most important to them.

Check In. Ask your teen about plans, activities and whereabouts. Ask where your child is going, whom they are with, what they are doing and when they will be home. Carve out times to check-in unexpectedly. For example, show up at a location where your teen is hanging out or call and speak with parents at the house where your child said he or she would be.

Be Engaged. Get involved with your teen’s school and activities. Familiarize yourself with teachers, coaches, employers and other important adults who can support your monitoring efforts.

Be Observant. Monitor changes in your teen’s physical appearance, attitudes, behaviors or other warning signs like new friends or poor grades. Increasingly, teens are turning to prescription and over-the-counter drugs (i.e. cough medicines or drugs that contain dextrethorphan [DXM] found in their homes to get high. Keep inventory of your alcohol and medicine cabinets to determine if such items are missing.