Parents play a powerful role in helping teens make healthy choices. By staying informed and engaged, you can help protect your child’s growing brain and support their long-term well-being.

Take time to learn about the effects of early alcohol use and have open, honest conversations with your child about what you discover. Let them know you care deeply about their health, safety, and future, and encourage them to make choices that reflect those values. Your guidance, connection, and example matter more than you may realize. 

When you lead with love, support, and clear expectations, you help build the confidence and resilience your child needs to navigate these kinds of challenges.

Care Action Steps:

• Educate yourself about vaping so you can be on the lookout and equipped with reliable information.
• Learn more about how addictive substances like nicotine can affect the developing adolescent brain by watching this video and visiting our Why Parent Up? page.
• Explore the risk factors that can increase the likelihood of addiction, and use that knowledge to strengthen the protective factors in your child’s life.
• Share what you learn with other parents and caregivers. Together, adults can create a stronger culture of support and prevention for teens.

Connection is the best prevention. Kids that have stable, consistent and healthy relationships with adults are more likely to make safer decisions and live healthier lives. It’s important that parents and other caring adults take time to listen, pay attention, spend time, and follow up with the kids in their lives. When we are connected, we can better understand their feelings and motivations. Kids are more willing to listen when they feel valued and heard, and feel that adults are on their side.

Connect Action Steps:

• Educate yourself about vaping so you can be on the lookout and equipped with reliable information.
• Learn more about how addictive substances like nicotine can affect the developing adolescent brain by watching this video and visiting our Why Parent Up? page.
• Explore the risk factors that can increase the likelihood of addiction, and use that knowledge to strengthen the protective factors in your child’s life.
• Brainstorm healthy ways to manage the stress in their life with your child (like getting more sleep, going outdoors, having “unplugged” time from the internet, etc.). Be open to your child’s suggestions and help them think through some ideas.
• Finding that connecting with your teen is difficult? Try these tips.
• Share what you learn with other parents and caregivers. Together, adults can create a stronger culture of support and prevention for teens.

Download our free handout, “How to Talk to Your Teen about Marijuana (And Actually Get Somewhere).” You can also visit our Communication Guides for tips on how to have conversations with your child about any substance use, depending on their age. 

Keep in mind that the average age a child in Missouri first uses marijuana is age 14. Having open and honest conversations about this topic, before and after this age, is important for preventing youth use. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, teens are less likely to try marijuana if they can ask parents for help when times are hard or stressful, and when they know how their parents feel about drug use. 

Make it clear to your child that you don’t approve of them using marijuana, but be curious and open-minded about their experiences. Ask them what they think about marijuana. Their answer may surprise you. It’s more important – and effective– to listen and discuss rather than to lecture. Instead of interrogating your child about whether or not they’ve used marijuana, it’s easier to start a conversation by asking what they’ve heard about it at school or if they’ve seen other kids using it. Finding out what your child knows and thinks first will help you know where to start your conversations about marijuana.

Communicate Action Steps:

• Be clear and focus on the risks of marijuana use on your child’s health and safety. Let your child know you love them and don’t want anything bad to happen to them.
• Take a stand and let your child know you disapprove of any drug or alcohol use, no exceptions.
• Explain to them that marijuana is harmful to their developing brains, can lead to addiction, and can even lead to legal consequences.
• Use “teachable moments” to start conversations about marijuana. Use public service announcements, stories on the news, TV plot lines, pop culture or current issues at school or in the community to spur on conversation.
• Frequently talk, and listen, to your child about how things are going in their life.
• Try to find time to talk and really connect with your child every day.

Here are some things to say to your child about marijuana:

• “There’s a lot of information about marijuana out there but I want you to come to me with your questions.”
• “If you’re concerned about peer pressure or your friends using marijuana, let me know and we can talk about it.” (In Missouri, more than 30.2% of youth had one or more friends who smoked marijuana.)
• “I’ve heard a lot of talk about marijuana recently, so I want you to know that it is never okay for kids to use. In fact, it’s illegal.”
• “Your brain is still growing until your mid-20s and marijuana isn’t good for growing brains.”

As a general rule, know where your kids are at and who they are with. Check in with your teenager before and after they go out. You can use our helpful “Going Out” Checklist. Watch for any early signs or symptoms of marijuana use and be on alert for changes in behaviors, friend groups, or attitudes.

Careful Attention Action Steps:

Signs that Your Child Might Be Using Marijuana/Cannabis:
Appearance

• Looking “stoned” – glassy, red eyes. Out of it. Slurred speech.
• Dry mouth
• Decreased personal hygiene from what was “normal” for them
• Smell – marijuana has a very “skunky” type smell

Changes in Behavior

• Disrupted learning and memory
• A drop in grades and/or quitting activities
• Difficulty with thinking and problem solving
• Less openness and honesty
• Worsening relationships with family
• Increased appetite – “munchies” – beyond what is normal for your child
• More tired and less motivated than what is normal for your child
• Health and/or sleep issues that are not normal for your child
• Inappropriate laughter
• Distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch)
• Loss of motor coordination
• Anxiety
• Heavy use of breath mints, mouthwash, gum and/or eye drops
• Use of incense or other deodorizers in bedroom
• Rolling papers, bong, pipe, and/or vaping equipment – A good rule of thumb is, if you see anything you don’t recognize, it’s time to start asking questions and doing research.