Parents often worry about their child's potential use of illegal substances and fear the possiblity of addiction. The legalization of medical marijuana in Montana, legalization of marijuana in neighboring states, and increased availability of methamphetamines and heroin have provided greater access for youth and more challenges for parents. If you suspect a child is using illegal substances, seek help from a licensed addiction counselor (LAC) who specializes in substance abuse treatment for adolescents. The resources below identify possible warning signs and provide helpful suggestions.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens - This handout translates popular slang and language for drugs, ingestion/use methods, impacts on development, and helpful media and videos.
Prescription Drug Abuse - Warning Signs - This short video explains the potential warning signs of youth who are abusing prescrptiion drugs.
The Partnership for Drug Free Kids - This fact sheet provides a list of commonly asked questions about prescription drug use of teenagers. This fact sheet includes who is at risk, risk factors of use, and steps for parents and families.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse - This short informational video explains the perceptions of drug use, drug use behaviors, and trends over the past 20 years.
Vaping - In this video, Dr. Deborah Gilboa describes what vaping is and explains the hazards associated with it.
Talking With Your Child - In this video, Dr. Michael Bradley provides suggestions on how to talk with your child if you suspect they are using alcohol of drugs.
Teenage Parties - In this video, Dr. Michael Riera provides suggestions for parents to establish rules around attending teenage parties.
Parental tips - These 11 tips identify common mistakes that parents and families make when addressing substance use and abuse with their children.