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	Tips for Parents

 "Stopping parties does not stop drug use. Find out why your child would feel the need to gain happiness from a pill first — blame the parties, last."
— Sam, a teenager

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Drug Lingo: Know What to Listen for

Have you ever heard your teenager reference the time “4:20?” Many parents don’t realize that 420 (pronounced "four-twenty") is a “secret code” for a time to get high. The reference to 420 presumably dates back to '70s stoner lingo but is still widely recognized by the youth of today. Some people have even designated April 20th as "National Pot Smokers Day."

If you hear your teenager reference 420, see that he is using the term while instant messaging with friends or has a 420 sticker on his car or backpack, call him on it. Let him know you know what he's talking about and set up a time for a longer conversation about your family’s no tolerance policy for drug and alcohol use.

Visit the Office of National Drug Control Policy Web site for a database containing more than 2,300 street terms referring to specific drug types or drug activity.

What Are Drug Paraphernalia? What Does It Look Like?

Where Are Drug Paraphernalia Sold? Are Paraphernalia Illegal?