Advice:
Parents, you are the first line of defense when it comes to your child’s drug use or drinking. And you do make a difference! Nearly two-thirds of teenagers see great risk of upsetting their parents or losing the respect of family and friends if they smoke marijuana or use other drugs. Communication is the key, but it is sometimes hard to know where to start. This section provides parents with practical parenting advice on keeping kids drug free.

11 Ways to Prevent Substance Abuse
There are some simple steps you can take to keep track of your child’s activities. Of course, your kids might not like you keeping tabs on where they are and what they’re doing. It won’t be a democracy, and it shouldn’t be, according to many parenting experts. In the end, it’s not pestering, it’s parenting. Click here to read full story.

Warning Signs:
How can you tell if your child is using drugs or alcohol? It is difficult because changes in mood or attitudes, unusual temper outbursts, changes in sleeping habits and changes in hobbies or other interests are common in teens. It’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference between normal teenage angst and a drug problem. What should you look for? Click here to read full article

At Home Drug Test:
There are many testing kits available at local drug stores, online, or you can check with your child's physcian.

Tips for Parents — What To Do and When (www.theantidrug.com)
When you have a suspicion that your teen is "experimenting" with drugs, what do you do? Click here to find out.

Improving Communication with Your Teen about Drugs (from Magellanassist.com)
Start an Ongoing Conversation: No loving relationship can exist without communication. Teens believe they have valuable things to say and, when a parent listens genuinely, it helps self-esteem and confidence. The most important thing to remember when it comes to talking about difficult subjects like drinking and drugs is that it's not a five-minute "talk" - it's about building an ongoing dialogue. Click here to read more

Getting help:
Once you establish that your teen has a substance abuse problem, you must find help. CVCAN! can help support your family through this difficult time. Whatever path you take at this point, know that there are many caring professionals that want to help you successfully work through the situation. Although it may be difficult to make the call, the earlier that you seek help for your child the better. Contact us to get help now or visit our Community Resources page.