Given the number and strength of issues that encourage youth substance use, it is understandable why so many parents feel helpless in supporting their teens to make healthy decisions about substance use. Yet the research clearly shows that parents can and do make a difference in the lives of American adolescents. Healthy parent-adolescent communication has been associated with less teen substance use. Parent-adolescent communication also has buffered the effects of media on adolescent substance use. Important protective factors offered by parents include effective parent-adolescent communication, authoritative adult relationships, and parents who abstain from substance use.
Parents continue to have a great impact on the lives of their teens.
Health educators should strive to empower parents to take advantage of their positive influence on adolescent substance use prevention. Resilience as a theoretical basis for substance abuse prevention. Journal of Primary Prevention. The 2001 Priester Extension Health conference is right around the corner. This year the conference will address reducing health disparities through workshops, panel presentations, roundtable discussions and a share fair.