Take the time to watch these programs and pay attention to what the teen characters say and do. The Vampire Slayer Charmed Moesha Read teen magazines. Set aside your lunch hour once or twice a week to flip through their pages. Knowing what's cool will help you understand teens and communicate more effectively with them. Seventeen Vibe Sports Illustrated Cosmo Girl Learn the language and symbols of youth popular culture.
Nothing is as simple as it seems.
Often the prodrug messages that youth receive are so steeped in jargon and symbolism that they are nearly incomprehensible to adults. The creators of these messages are banking on their lingo being undetectable to adults. It is essential that adults who work with youth recognize references to drug use in music lyrics and elsewhere. Watch music videos for clues to hidden language. Ask teenagers to point out code that most adults wouldn't understand.