NOT HERE.
This is the standard our community is setting. Because when it comes to youth and substance use, silence sends the wrong message.
Teens who know their parents do not approve of teen use of alcohol, marijuana, or vaping are far less likely to use. It’s that simple. Setting clear, consistent boundaries doesn’t make you the “mean” parent. It makes you the trusted one.
Together, we can make our homes, our teams, and our neighborhoods places where young people know: substance use doesn’t belong here.
Not in our house.
Not in our schools.
Not in our communities.
Not Here.
It starts with us.
According to a 2024 Gallup poll, 80% of kids say parents’ opinions affect their decision making.
Our Kids ARE listening
Parents are still the number one influence on their kids’ lives. Kids whose parents have clear rules and boundaries about alcohol and drug use are less likely to use those substances.
Many small conversations about healthy choices are better than one long one. Start by bringing it up in small moments like in the car, on the way to a game, or when they get home from school. Short reminders help to reinforce clear standards. Teach your child different ways to say NO.
Conversation Starters
How do you think substances affect your school and sports?
Would you feel safe telling me if you tried something?
What will you say if someone offers you drugs or alcohol?
What do you know about vapes?
Why do you think kids use drugs and alcohol?
Do you know what our expectations are?
What ways can we come up with to say no and get out of uncomfortable situations?
It starts with Connection.
Simple ways to connect with your family:
Tell bedtime stories
Talk around the dinner table
Have family game nights
Create seasonal traditions
Establish regular family routines
Support kids’ mental health
Genuine, meaningful connections with positive adults help to keep kids on the right track and away from harmful behaviors.
Ways to build stronger family bonds:
Cheer for their interests
Put connection before other activities
Make time together count - family dinners, game nights, shared hobbies
Model healthy relationships
Less pressure, more presence
Keep it real - resolve conflict, apologize, etc.
Why parents need to know
90% of adults who live with dependence on a substance began using that substance prior to the age of 18.
BUT
Youth whose parents talk with them about the risks of substance use are 50% less likely to use drugs and alcohol than those whose parents do not address it.
More Ideas for What Parents Can Do
Listen more than you talk
Respect their opinion
Ask questions
Eat family meals together
Be present and engaged
Show interest in their interests
Ask open ended questions
Encourage kids to be involved in sports and activities
Set clear boundaries and expectations
What we need to know about
Marijuana
It’s not the 60s anymore
THC, the component of marijuana that creates the high, has increased exponentially in recent years. From the 60s through the 80s, the average THC content was 2-4%
Now, the average THC concentration has increased to 17-28%
With different ways to consume, marijuana can be upward of 80-95% THC
Recent research on frequent use of highly potent concentrations of THC (also called dabbing) has shown an increased risk of schizophrenia and paranoia, sometimes leading to self harm.
Most youth who use marijuana are vaping it.
The liquid is concentrated to allow for higher THC concentration, producing a stronger high. Most youth have no idea how dangerous marijuana can be because it is advertised as herbal, natural, medicinal, or botanical.
There are numerous possible effects that accompany frequent use of high THC marijuana, including:
Headaches
Anxiety
Hallucinations
Difficulty Concentrating
Difficulty Sleeping
Increased Depression
Increased Risk of Schizophrenia
Psychosis and Paranoia
Harvey County Youth
With chemical tweaks, there are many new variations of marijuana, including Delta 8, Delta 10, Delta 0, and more. Each of these provide differing effects and fall within a legally gray area, even locally, where marijuana use and sale is illegal. With the differing chemical makeup comes different effects and increased long-term risks. None of these chemically altered versions are regulated, so it is difficult to verify how much marijuana is in a product or even what else might be in it as well.
What we need to know about
Vaping
Youth get access via
Friends - many share
Parents
Some Local Stores
Social Media (especially SnapChat)
What to Look For
Items held close to the face
Long sleeves in all year long
Frequent bathroom trips
Unidentified items being charged
How They are Hidden
In Long Sleeves
Small pockets
Backpack pockets and liners
Earbud containers
Shoes
Undergarments
Many of the most popular vapes are now disposable, but they can still be recharged. Some vapes have multiple uses with touchscreens and music capabilities. While not seen very much locally, vapes are often disguised as other devices like pens, car keys, hoodie strings, or even inhalers.
Alcohol remains the most widely used substance by today’s teens. Research shows that waiting to start drinking alcohol is one of the most effective ways to prevent a substance use disorder later in life.
What we need to know about
Alcohol and Kids
Over 90% of youth report getting alcohol free, in many vases through family members or at home. Lock it up!
Memory Problems
Legal Issues
Changes in Brain Development
Other Drug Use
Suicide
Mental Health Issues
Decreased Physical/Sports Performance
Risks of Underage Drinking
Other Worrisome Trends
Kratom
Kratom is a leaf from a plant in southeast Asia that is associated with a calming effect.
A synthetic form of kratom, known as 7-OH is created by concentrating the plant liquids in a lab to create a much more potent and increased stimulant effect.
The 7-OH form of kratom binds to the opioid receptors in the brain like a powerful opioid. Some concentrations are up to 500 times more potent than the “natural” kratom leaf.
Withdrawal symptoms similar to those of fentanyl withdrawal are being reported by ERs and hospitals across the country.
In some cases, multiple rounds of Narcan/Naloxone are needed to reverse the effects of high-concentration kratom overdose.
Nicotine Pouches
Contain high-concentrated nicotine
Does not require spitting
Many flavor options
No tobacco (often synthetic)
No smell
Youth use of both kratom and nicotine pouches are on the rise, with both products being offered cheaply at gas stations.
Need resources for your child?
Want to get involved?
Sources
WeThriveLearning
RaisingUpKind
GoodRX
Johnny’s Ambassadors
CDC
National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
NJPrevent
Kansas Communities That Care Survey data
Mayo Clinic
AddictionCenter.com
Coalition for a Safer Web
What we need to know about
Social Media
Many kids get illegal drugs through using codes on SnapChat and other platforms. Often, conversations on these platforms disappear, which helps to hide these conversations from parents.
Frequent users of social media are:
5 times as likely to buy cigarettes
3 times as likely to drink
2 times as likely to use marijuana
With widespread use of substances by celebrities and influencers, your teen’s algorithm can push these behaviors without you knowing.
Social media not only causes dissatisfaction, but increases the risk of developing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
An estimated 27% of children who spend 3 or more hours per day on social media exhibit symptoms of poor mental health
Know your child’s social media passwords
Set up screentime limits
Plug phones in at night to charge in parents’ room
Stay away from apps that don’t have privacy settings
Setting boundaries: