Today's teens are savvy about drug use, making distinctions not only among different drugs and their effects, but also among trial, occasional use, and addiction. By now, your teen has had to make tough decisions about whether he would give in to peer pressure and experiment with drugs or go against some peers and stay clean. By keeping the conversation going, you'll help your teen enter his adult years healthy and ready to raise the next generation of drug-free kids. Emphasize what drug use can do to your teen's future.
Teens look ahead and think about their future.
Encourage your teen to volunteer somewhere they can see the impact drug use has on your community. Teenagers tend to be idealistic and enjoy hearing about ways they can help make the world a better place. Help your teen research volunteer opportunities at local homeless shelters, hospitals, or victim services centers. Use news reports as discussion openers. If you see a news story about an alcohol-related car accident, talk to your teen about all the victims that an accident leaves in its wake.