LEAF Blog

Parties, events, and family gatherings can be challenging when alcohol brings out the worst in a loved one. 

Whether it’s the height of summer or the approach of the holidays, every season has its own celebrations—but what can you do when you dread those celebrations because of a friend or family member who drinks too much?

It’s never too early to start the conversation about substance use. As soon as children are able to converse, parents can start teaching them how to make healthy choices—a skill that will serve them well in adulthood. Here are ten tips for talking with little ones about substance use.

Part of raising children is teaching them what they need to know for independent adult life. One of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child is education about substance use. 

In a world where many substances are all too easy to access (and sometimes even encouraged), it’s important for your child to understand the risks associated with alcohol, drugs, and nicotine.

Read on for our breakdown on having The Substance Talk with children of any age.

It’s a myth that drivers can safely operate a car after smoking or ingesting cannabis (also known as marijuana, weed, or pot).

Since the legalization of recreational cannabis, impaired driving rates have increased. A recent survey showed that drivers’ use of cannabis had spiked by forty-six percent since 2007 (AAA n.d.).

Some cannabis consumers may think driving high “isn’t as bad as driving drunk,” but cannabis can be just as risky.

As of 2024, cannabis has recently been legalized for recreational use in New York State. This change has resulted in an overflow of products available at dispensaries, including gummies, chocolates, vapes, oils, distillates, and much more. Cannabis—also known as weed, marijuana, or pot—seems more popular than ever.

Opinions about cannabis are mixed—some claim it’s a harmless substance, others call it “the gateway drug,” and the government has historically classified cannabis as a Schedule I drug alongside cocaine and heroin.

One of the biggest contributors to adverse effects is cannabis’s potency. Potency refers to how strong the drug is. High-potency cannabis is associated with mental health difficulties and substance use disorder (Hines et al. 2020).

What do you need to know about cannabis potency? Read on for an overview.

As a parent, finding out your child has experimented with substances can be a bit shocking. What should you do?

Read on for an overview of why teens may seek out substances—and how adults can help them.

With children of any age, it’s important to communicate clearly, firmly, and lovingly about the effects of substance use. Teens in particular may need guidance to make healthy choices around drugs, alcohol, or nicotine.

Read on for our guidelines on how to talk with your teen about substances.

As your child approaches their teen years, parents face many new challenges. Parents may be surprised to discover their teen’s experience with drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.

According to HealthyChildren.org, many parents may be unaware of—or even unwilling to face—the reality of their child’s substance use (“Intervention Strategies for Concerned Parents” 2014).

Get educated on the reality of teen substance use, the reasons teens may seek out substances, and what you can do to help.