Youth Mental Health – Parent UP KC

5 Ways to Keep Our Kids Marijuana-Free

December 17, 2025November 19, 2025 by KCadmin

As parents and caregivers, we want nothing more than to see our kids happy, healthy, and thriving. But today’s marijuana is far stronger than it used to be, and teens’ still-developing brains are especially vulnerable. Marijuana use can impact our teens’ mental health, learning, and safe driving. And because 90% of Americans who struggle with addiction began using substances as teens, early prevention is key!

Here’s the encouraging part: a strong, caring relationship with you is one of the most powerful protections your child has.

Your presence, your voice, and your guidance genuinely make a difference. Here are four supportive steps you can take:

1. Talk Often

Frequent, low-pressure conversations help more than one big, intimidating talk. Ask your child what they’ve heard about marijuana at school or online. Stay curious, listen without judgment, and share what you know in age-appropriate ways. Most importantly, let them know they can always come to you (or another trusted adult) if they’re feeling stressed, pressured, or anxious. Keeping that door open builds trust.

2. Be Clear about Expectations

Kids actually want to know where you stand, and clear boundaries and expectations help kids feel safe and supported. Let your child know you don’t want them using marijuana in any form—including vaping and edibles. Let your kids know that any substance use – including marijuana use – is harmful to their growing brains, and you care about their mental health and well-being. Your clarity helps them to make safer choices.

3. Prepare for Peer Pressure

Even strong kids can get caught off guard. Practice simple “no thanks” responses together and brainstorm what they might say if someone offers them marijuana. Consider creating a family code word they can text you if they need help getting out of an unsafe situation — like if someone they’re riding with is about to drive high. These conversations send a powerful message: I trust you, and I’ve got your back.

4. Stay Close

The time you spend with your child — even 20 minutes over a snack or a quick daily check-in — builds connection and resilience. Feeling seen and supported by a caring adult is one of the strongest protective factors against all substance use! Your steady presence has more impact than you may realize!

5. Know the Signs

You know your child better than anyone. If you notice changes in behavior, mood, or friend groups, trust that insight. Warning signs of marijuana use may include:

Red or glassy eyes
Slurred speech
Dry mouth
A “skunky” smell
Anxiety or irritability
Drop in grades
Quitting hobbies or activities
Difficulty thinking or problem-solving

If something feels “off,” reach out for help. Support is available, and early action can make a huge difference.

You are your child’s greatest protection.

Your love, clarity, and everyday presence give them the strength and confidence to make healthy choices — now and for years to come. You’re not alone in this, and the steps you take today truly matter.

Parent Up is here to help!

Learn more and find help with our free parent resources on our Marijuana page.
Update your parenting playbook on the harms of youth marijuana use by checking out our 5 Urgent Reasons to Keep Kids Marijuana-Free.

Help Knock Out Teen Vaping For Good. Here’s How:

July 30, 2025June 28, 2025 by KCadmin

As adults, helping our teens make good choices can sometimes feel like stepping into the boxing ring, facing off against the challenges that threaten their well-being. One challenge that has become more prominent in recent years is teen vaping. But just like a boxer, you can learn skills to help “knock out” teen vaping in just a few rounds.

🧠 Round 1: Knowledge is Power

In this round, you’ll rely on your knowledge of the risks of vaping during adolescence, including:

Vaping’s harmful effects on the developing brain. Youth are uniquely at risk for long-lasting effects of exposing their developing brains to nicotine or cannabis (marijuana), like permanently lowering impulse control. Because youth build connections (synapses) faster than adult brains, nicotine alters the way these synapses form, which can harm attention, learning, and memory.
Increased risk of addiction to nicotine or cannabis. Because the young brain is still developing, its reward system is much more vulnerable to being hijacked by things like vaping nicotine or marijuana than fully-developed adult brains. This is why 90% of Americans struggling with addiction started using drugs – like nicotine – before age 18.
Potential for future addiction to other drugs. Vaping among youth is strongly linked to the use of other tobacco products, and there is some evidence suggesting that teens who vape are more likely to experiment with other drugs like alcohol or cannabis.

We also need to be aware of the new nicotine products that are being marketed to teens so we can keep an eye out for their ever-changing new forms. Having an understanding of why teens vape also shows us where there are opportunities to help and support our teens. Some of these reasons include influence from peers, a misunderstanding of the harmful contents of the aerosol produced by vaping, and coping with stress or anxiety. Equipped with this knowledge, you’ll be better able to help your teen understand the risks of vaping and guide them toward safe choices.

🗨️ Round 2: Open & Honest Communication

Just like a boxer, teens need people in their corner who can provide strong support and guidance, and this starts with open and honest communication. Approach your teen with empathy and a willingness to listen, and know that you won’t always get everything across in one talk. Use these conversation goals to help guide you in your talks with your teen:

Make it clear that you don’t approve of them using any vaping products. Over 80% of 10-18 year olds say their parents are their biggest influence on their decision not to use substances.

Show teens you care about their health, safety, and success. Reinforce the reasons you expect your teen to stay vape-free – because you love them and want them to be happy, healthy, and safe. Explain to them that vaping is harmful to their developing brains and can lead to lifelong addiction.

Be curious and open-minded about their experiences. Ask them what they think, know, or have heard about vaping. Show them that you are a good source of information if they have questions.

Keep the conversation going. Talk often with your teen about vaping. Take advantage of opportunities when watching movies, TV, and commercials together that feature vaping. Let them know that they can come to you for help with stress, anxiety, or peer pressure.

🏆 Round 3: Strategize for Success

In boxing, strategizing for success means practicing and planning for what might happen in the ring. You can help your teen do the same by practicing and planning for the situations they might encounter in their day-to-day lives. Consider planning for things like:

Peer pressure. Practicing how to say “no” can help teens feel more confident and comfortable resisting if a friend or peer offers them a vape.
Daily stressors. Stress is a normal part of life, but teens need help learning how to manage it. Discuss what stressors might exist for your teen and brainstorm coping skills that can help them handle stress, such as spending time outside, getting adequate sleep, or positive self-talk. Be open to their suggestions and help them think through some ideas that will work for them.

➡️ Follow up often to see how these strategies for success are working, and help them adapt their plans as needed.

🥳Celebrate when you notice them putting these strategies into action!

👩‍⚕️Round 4: Seek Professional Help

Boxers call on professionals to help them when needed, and you can too.

If you’re worried your teen might be vaping, the Partnership to End Addiction can help.
Support teens who want to quit vaping. If you know a teen who’s trying to quit, tell them they can connect to a My Life My Quit coach at MO.MyLifeMyQuit.org or text ‘Start My Quit’ to 36072. This local cessation resource sends them free, confidential support and tips to help them quit vaping for good.
If your child is vaping to cope with anxiety or depression, reach out to their primary care doctor or a mental health professional.

By adopting a boxing mentality, we can get one step closer to knocking out teen vaping for good!
For more resources and tips for keeping kids safe from teen vaping, visit our Vaping page here at ParentUpKC.com!

High-Performing Kids and Mental Wellness: The Tightrope Walk

May 8, 2024October 23, 2020 by KCadmin

We humans are good at finding patterns. This evolutionary benefit has kept us alive longer than the dinosaurs, but it’s not foolproof. Sometimes, these patterns can steer us wrong. As parents, what we perceive to be good and healthy for our kids, might not be the reality. The team captain with straight-As could have an eating disorder. The class president with multiple scholarship offers might be questioning their sexuality. When it comes to identifying how well our kids are managing stress and dealing with substance use, sometimes we miss what is right in front of us.

Teens face an ever-creeping, constant pressure that the decisions they make in high school actively determine their path in life. Their problems might look small to adults, but from where they stand, the difference between low and high performance feels as if it could set them on an entirely different trajectory. The stress and anxiety teens feel about their future takes a toll on their minds and bodies.

How do we take some of the weight off the shoulders of high-performing teens?

Teens learn resilience when faced with difficult situations. In order to build this skill, teens need positive stress in their lives. For most youth, the stress of good grades and high performance as an athlete or musician is exactly the sort of positive stress that teaches effort, focus, determination, and teamwork. Stress becomes toxic when it is ongoing and without buffering. Adults act as buffers by being supportive, responsive, and caring to teens experiencing stressful circumstances. Ask yourself, why is your child’s high performance so important? Is it so they win or are the very best? Or is the priority that they develop esteem, work ethic, and resilience?

When walking the tightrope of encouraging high performance and supporting youth and their mental wellness, remember that most lessons are learned in the losses. We can hold teens to high standards all while demonstrating we care for them when they fall short of their goals.

5 Things You Can Do:

Talk to your teen about what is causing them stress. Let them know they can always come to you if things are feeling unmanageable to work through problems together.
Demonstrate your support and care when they fall short of their goals. Acknowledge both their hard work and their ability to do better next time.
Let teens foster an identity outside of performance. Praise them when they make an insightful comment, do something kind for another person, or creatively solve a problem on their own. Celebrate their effort, not just the outcome.

Examples of Buffering

A high performing teen is feeling daily pressure from a parent to excel in school and sports, from a coach to lead the team every game, from a teacher to score the highest on the test, and from social media to look a certain way.

Parent: “I’ve noticed you haven’t been yourself lately. This has been a really challenging month. What are some ways I can support you?”

Coach: “That was a tough loss. You showed some real grit in that game. You never gave up.”

Teacher: “I noticed you’ve been tired in class this week. Are you doing ok? I’m here to talk if you need some help.”

Set boundaries. Work with your teen to mutually prioritize habits that feed their physical and mental health. How much sleep is right for them? How is social media impacting their mental wellness?
Check out the Developmental Assets® Framework. Learn about the ways you can support, empower, set boundaries and expectations, encourage constructive use of time, while fostering your teens’ commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity.

Kat Barrow is a Community Prevention Specialist at Tri-County Mental Health Services in Kansas City, MO. She earned her Masters of Public Health from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Kat is passionate about creative, inclusive approaches to improving community health and wellness.