Supporting young people with substance use

Get informed

Research shows that when young people have questions about drugs and/or alcohol, the first place they go to for information is their parents or carers.

The world in which our young people are growing up is very different from when we, as parents, grew up. For example:

young people have access to a stream of information 24/7 via social media and the internet
information online is not always fact-checked, consistent or even accurate
social norms are continuously changing
young people are exposed to drugs and/or alcohol in many different ways whether that is in the street, social media or films
substances of all kinds are much more accessible
drug-taking has lost the stigma it once had

Most young people don’t use drugs and alcohol in excess. Having open and honest conversations with young people does not encourage them to try or take drugs and alcohol.

Giving young people accurate information or practical strategies helps them to make informed decisions, to keep themselves and their friends safe. It's not just about your young person. If one of their friends is in difficulty, your son or daughter can help save their life or reduce harm if they have the right knowledge such as:

knowing how much to take
what not to mix
what to do in emergencies

Talking to young people about drugs and alcohol

Helpful tips to support you:

find out the facts before you start the conversation
stay calm if they say that they have used drugs or alcohol, encourage open and non-judgemental conversations
don't make assumptions about what your young person knows or what they do, ask them
pick a good time and place to talk
use prompts to start a conversation so that your young person doesn't feel like you are accusing them of something, such as when you see someone drinking to excess, hear something in the news about drugs, storylines on TV
listen to what they have to say and don't lose your temper if you don't agree with them
explain your concerns and why you don't want them to use drugs and/or alcohol
let them know that you are there for them, care about them and that they can come to you with questions
give them clear and reliable information to help their decision making, talk through effective ways to respond if they ever feel pressured to try it
talk about the different reasons why young people may use drugs and alcohol, give examples such as wanting to fit in, curiosity or stress
take a break and go back to the conversation if it feels like it has gone wrong, don't give up
if you or your young person don't want to talk, ask someone else they have a relationship with or respect to have a chat with them

If your young person is using drugs or drinking:

try to understand why they are doing this by asking questions like, what do you enjoy about it or how does it make you feel
understand their needs and discuss other ways to meet those needs
set boundaries, make it clear what your house rules are and what you will and won't accept