talktheyhearyou.samhsa.gov 

“TALK. THEY HEAR YOU.”®

CAMPAIGN

What You Can Do to Prevent Your Child From 

Drinking Alcohol or Using Other Drugs

Be aware of potential risk 

factors, including:

• Significant	life	transitions,	such	as	graduating

from	middle	or	high	school	or	getting	a	driver’s

license;

• A	history	of	social	and	emotional	problems;

• Depression,	anxiety	disorders,	or	other	mental

health	issues;

• A	family	history	of	alcohol	or	other	substance

use disorders; and

• Hanging	out	with	friends	or	peers	who	drink

alcohol	or	use	other	drugs.

Be	a	positive	

role	model.

• Don’t	drink	alcohol	or	use

other	drugs	and	drive,	and

don’t	get	in	a	car	if	the	driver

has	been	drinking	or	using	other	drugs.

• Don’t	use	prescription	medication	that	wasn’t

prescribed	by	your	doctor.	And	don’t	misuse

medication	that	was	prescribed	to	you.

• Get	help	if	you	think	you	have	an	alcohol-	or

other	drug	use-related	problem.

• Don’t	give	alcohol	or	other	drugs	to	your

child	or	their	friends	and	peers.	Explain	that

underage	drinking	and	other	drug	use	are

never	acceptable	inside	or	outside	your	home.

• Know	where	you	keep	all	of	your	alcohol	and

prescription	medication,	and	always	remind

your	child	and	their	friends	and	peers	that

these	substances	are	off-limits.

Work	with	schools	and	

communities	to	ensure	that	they:	

• Support	and	reward	young	people’s	decisions

not	to	drink	alcohol	and	use	other	drugs;

• Identify	and	intervene	with	kids	who	are

engaged	in	alcohol	and	other	drug	use;

• Create,	enforce,	and	promote	rules	that

prevent	underage	drinking	and	other	drug

use; and

• Develop	acceptable	behavior	agreements

that	are	established,	well-known,	and	applied

consistently.

Provide	support	and	give	space	

for	growth.

• Be	involved	in	your	child’s	life.	Go	to	their

school	events	and	extracurricular	activities,

ask	about	their	day,	follow	through	on	your

commitments	to	them,	and	set	aside	time	to

do	things	together.

• Stay	actively	engaged	in	their	social	media

activity.	Talk	with	them	about	the	differences

between	appropriate	and	inappropriate	content

and	emphasize	that	what	gets	posted	online

can	be	there	forever.

• Encourage	their	independence	while

establishing	appropriate	limits.

• Make	it	easy	for	them	to	share	information

about	their	life	by	actively	listening	and	asking

open-ended	questions.

• Know	where	they	are,	what	they’re	doing,	and

whom	they’re	spending	time	with.
 talktheyhearyou.samhsa.gov 

“TALK. THEY HEAR YOU.”® CAMPAIGN

• Meet	and	get	to	know	the	parents	or	caregivers

of	their	friends	and	peers.	Share	your	rules

about	not	allowing	underage	drinking	or	other

drug	use.

• Find	ways	for	them	to	be	involved	in	family	life,

such	as	participating	in	fun	family	activities	and

events,	helping	with	house	projects	or	weekly

meal	planning,	doing	chores,	or	volunteering

together	in	the	community.

Set	clear	rules	and	expectations.

• Brainstorm	with	your	child	about	ways	they

can	have	fun	without	drinking	alcohol	or	using

other	drugs.

• Encourage	them	to	avoid	parties	and	other

gatherings	where	alcohol	or	other	drugs	are

present.	And	don’t	allow	underage	drinking	or

other	drug	use	at	get-togethers	in	your	home.

• Tell	them	to	never	drink

alcohol	or	use	other	drugs

and	drive	or	get	in	a	car

driven	by	someone	who	has

been	drinking	or	using

other	drugs.

• Help	them	find	services	and	support	if	you’re

worried	that	they’re	using	substances.

• Create	and	sign	a	family	agreement	form

where	you	agree	to	help	keep	them	substancefree	and	they	agree	to	not	drink	alcohol	or	use

other	drugs.

• Learn	more	about	the	risks	and	dangers	of

underage	drinking	and	other	drug	use	by

visiting	talktheyhearyou.samhsa.gov and using

#TalkTheyHearYou	on	social	media.	Share	and

discuss	this	information	with	them.

Use	Screen4Success.

Talking	with	kids	early	and	often	about	the	risks	and	dangers	of	underage	drinking	and	other	drug	

use	can	help	keep	them	safe.	But	how	do	you	know	if	your	child	needs	more	support,	and	where	do	

you	go	to	find	it?	Screen4Success	will	help	you	better	understand	your	child’s	health,	wellness,	and	

wellbeing	and	find	resources	to	help	address	their	needs.

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Subscribe	and	listen	

to	“What	Parents	Are	

Saying”	podcast.

Download	and	use	“Talk.	

They	Hear	You.”	mobile	app.

Download	and	read	full	“Tips	

for	Teens”	fact	sheet	series.

Use	and	share	

Screen4Success.

Download	and	order	“Talk.	

They	Hear	You.”	materials	

online	from	SAMHSA	Store.

Download	and	read	other	

SAMHSA underage drinking 

prevention	and	reduction	

materials.

PEP23-03-01-007