Power of Parents Topical Guide 1 YourTeensWorld 2025

TOPICAL GUIDE #1 POWER OF PARENTS®

Your Teen’s World

What’s Inside Table of Contents

Introduction �� 3

Gaining Independence �� 5

How Your Child Thinks ��7

Self-Esteem ��9

Going With the Group ��10

Risky Business ��11

When It Comes to Alcohol and Cannabis ��11

The Physical Effects ��13

Let’s Talk About It ��15

The Bottom Line ��17

How To Use This Topical Guide

Underage drinking and cannabis use poses a special risk to young people. It’s illegal and dangerous. This topical guide urges parents to:

SET A FAMILY RULE of no alcohol or cannabis use before age 21.

TALK EARLY AND OFTEN Use strategies recommended to talk with your child about alcohol and cannabis, even if it does not seem like they are interested in them.

AGREE ON CONSEQUENCES for breaking the no-use rule; enforce “zero tolerance.”

This is the first in a series of topical guides. Read the other topical guides and download MADD’s full parent handbook at madd.org/powerofparents.

Acknowledgments Mothers Against Drunk Driving® is grateful to Robert Turrisi, Ph.D., and his colleagues at The Pennsylvania State University for their partnership in this resource. Dr. Turrisi has spent decades researching how parents can talk effectively with teens about alcohol and cannabis. This resource draws from his work and from scientific knowledge in this field from all over the world.

Nationwide Insurance is the proud National Presenting Sponsor of Power of Parents . “As a company committed to protecting people, businesses, and futures with extraordinary care, there is no more important work that aligns with our values than keeping our roadways, families, and communities safe. Thank you for your commitment to preventing underage substance use and impaired driving. Nationwide is proud to stand with you on this lifesaving mission.”

Introduction Right now, your child is going through incredible transformations — inside and out. Some of the most important changes are taking place in their brains, and these changes will continue well into their 20’s.

Your child may experience:

Awkwardness: Adjusting to their changing body.

Friendship Challenges: Figuring out where they fit in and who to trust.

Increased Responsibilities: Balancing schoolwork, activities, and chores at home.

Need for Privacy: Having a desire for more privacy as they seek more independence.

These shifts are all normal and are signs that their brain and body are developing! These changes help to shape:

How they think

How they act

How they view substance use

How their bodies grow

The good news? YOU can support these changes and help guide their growth during this time. The way you talk with your child matters more than you might realize. Your communication influences: • The way their brain develops • Their ability to think critically and make healthy choices • How they view themselves and their place in the world Simple, thoughtful conversations can help shape their future decisions and actions.

Gaining Independence As your children grow, they will experience the need for freedom and responsibility, but they still need adult guidance to help them make age-appropriate choices.

When kids reach middle school, it’s normal for them to seek more freedom. They want to feel in control and capable of handling any situation — even when that is just not possible. Kids need to learn that with all new freedoms come responsibilities. It takes time to adjust to these new habits, so they need to earn these freedoms over time. As a parent or caregiver, you can communicate and model behavior in a manner that guides them through this process.

High schoolers are taking on more responsibilities and more adult roles, even though they are still young and their brains are still far from being fully developed. As a result, one moment they feel like an adult and the next they want to be cared for like a child. Teens sense that they are becoming more like adults and want to compete in the same world. However, even though they may act capable and ready to take on the world, they still look to their parents as they make decisions around important topics like alcohol and cannabis.

How Your Child Thinks Because their brains are not yet fully developed, your child is most likely to make choices based on immediate feelings. As a result, they are willing to do things they never planned or intended to do. Sometimes this results in risky behavior, such as drinking alcohol, using cannabis, or another substance. As they mature into their 20s, this will change. Their choices and actions will be based more on logic and less on emotions. This is a big part of why teens shouldn’t drink alcohol or use cannabis until they are 21 or older.

I don’t want to be left out.

I can just try it once.

This would make me look cool.

What am I doing this weekend?

WHAT’S GOING ON? Adults may hold beliefs and have thoughts that younger individuals are simply incapable of having due to their age. The part of the brain that controls executive functions (skills that you use to manage everyday tasks like making plans, solving problems and adapting to new situations) is at a critical stage during adolescence and is not completely developed until their early to mid 20s. You can help your child develop better critical thinking skills by talking together about the consequences of alcohol and cannabis use, even if they show little interest.

I should post this.

My friends drink.

Giving choices

Praising achievements

Focusing on their strengths

BOOST YOUR TEEN’S SELF-ESTEEM

Helping set realistic goals

Offering responsibilities

Self-Esteem Your child is working to figure out where they “fit in.” They need close friends with whom they can share their thoughts, beliefs, and preferences. They tend to try to work out their problems with peers who they perceive as having a similar level of power instead of coming to a more authoritative individual, like a parent or teacher. Children and teens who have high self-esteem are

better equipped to make smart choices, deal with peer pressure, and avoid underage drinking. It’s important to recognize your role in your child’s development of their self- esteem. If possible, do not punish your child in public. This leads to humiliation and lowers self-esteem. When handled properly, both positive and negative experiences can help build self-esteem.

Going Along With the Group

Your child will include “others” in their moral reasoning—even if their perception of what their peers are doing is wrong. Research shows that teens and younger adults tend to overestimate how many of their peers drink alcohol, and the more they overestimate, the more likely they are to drink. Your child may justify decisions by saying, “everyone at my school drinks.” Rather than arguing, try to offer an alternative perception, such as “Reputable studies show that 7 out of 10 teens actually do NOT drink alcohol. This means that most of the kids at school are probably not drinking as much as you might think.” Youth often believe that they should be excused for misbehavior if it wasn’t planned or if they are one of many. They may say, “We didn’t mean to drink alcohol; things just happened; kids make mistakes.” This is where you can communicate with them about your family rules and help them form a plan for the next time these situations arise.

7 in 10 teens do not drink alcohol.

Risky Business Because adolescents’ brains are still developing, youth take more risks with alcohol and cannabis. They act impulsively and don’t recognize that their actions have consequences. Alcohol is especially attractive to young people because it reduces social anxiety and inhibitions. These same characteristics also make them much more vulnerable to taking risks, like getting into a car with someone who is impaired.

When it Comes to Alcohol & Cannabis

Teens may hear that drinking alcohol or using cannabis is risky, but their own experiences and observations often carry more weight. They might think,

“My parents or older siblings have done it, and nothing bad happened to them.”

Adolescents also tend to believe that negative consequences happen to other people—not to them.

Many factors influence a teen’s decision to try alcohol or cannabis, and simply presenting facts or statistics may not be enough to deter them. Instead, your role as a parent is to help them develop rational thinking skills by discussing risks, setting clear expectations, and guiding them toward safe choices.

“Hey, after practice tonight would it be okay if we spend time talking about the risks of underage substance use and our family expectations?”

One essential step is establishing firm family rules about what to do in situations where alcohol or cannabis is present. Studies show that when alcohol is easily accessible, teens tend to drink more often and in greater amounts. Make sure your child understands that if they find themselves in an unsafe situation— such as an unsupervised hangout or party where substances are present—they should leave and call or text a trusted adult for a safe ride home.

“Mom, can you come pick me up? I don’t think it’s safe for Alex to drive me home.”

Understanding why teens may be tempted to try alcohol or cannabis is just one piece of the puzzle, though. While their perceptions and experiences shape their choices, it’s also important to recognize how these substances physically affect their developing bodies and brains. Even occasional use can have immediate and lasting consequences, impacting their ability to think clearly, make safe decisions, and protect their future.

The Physical Effects According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), alcohol and cannabis affect the body and brain in different ways, but both can have serious and lasting consequences—especially for teenagers, whose brains and bodies are still developing. Alcohol is a depressant that begins to impair judgment, coordination, and reaction time from the very first drink.

As more alcohol enters the bloodstream, it slows down critical functions of the body, such as:

Muscle coordination, balance, and reflexes.

The brain’s ability to process information and make decisions.

Heart rate and breathing—and in cases of alcohol poisoning, they can stop completely.

For teens, drinking alcohol is even riskier because their bodies absorb alcohol faster than adults, making impairment happen more quickly and severely.

Like alcohol, cannabis affects judgment, coordination, and reaction time, making activities like driving especially dangerous. Long term cannabis use is shown to directly interfere with brain development in ways that can last beyond the teen years.

Inhaling cannabis— whether through smoking or vaping— can irritate the lungs, making breathing more difficult.

Memory and learning decline, making it harder to focus, retain information, and do well in school.

Mood and mental health suffer, with frequent use linked to increased anxiety, and depression.

Reaction time slows, increasing the risk of accidents, poor decision-making, and trouble with activities that require quick thinking.

Alcohol and cannabis use during adolescence can permanently alter brain pathways responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation. What may seem like a harmless choice now can have long-term consequences.

Let’s Talk About It

First

When talking with your child about alcohol and cannabis, don’t lecture them. Ask for their thoughts and opinions on the topic and be considerate of how they feel.

Use questions that start with: HOW How would you handle an invitation to a party with alcohol or cannabis? WHAT What would you say? WHY Why do you think drinking alcohol and using cannabis is dangerous at your age?

“There is something that I have been thinking about lately, and I was hoping we could talk about it for a few minutes. Is that okay?”

These informal conversations also help keep the lines of communication open. By talking with kids often, the transition is easier when you need to discuss more difficult topics.

Second

Help them practice thinking through the pros and cons of different alternatives.

Third

Do things as a family. Positive, shared family activities help protect kids against risky peer influences.

For example, kids like looking at pictures of parents and siblings when they were young. Viewing family photos together can strengthen relationships and show how everyone goes through similar changes.

The Bottom Line

Adults may hold beliefs and have thoughts that

They are listening… what are you saying? This series of resources can help parents substantially reduce the chance that their child will drink alcohol and use cannabis before the age of 21. Alcohol is the substance most commonly used by youth— more than all other illicit substances combined. MADD’s Power of Parents handbooks are based on the latest research by Dr. Robert Turrisi, PhD at Penn State University, which, when followed, has shown up to a 30% reduction in underage drinking.

simply do not exist for youth because their brains are still developing. Help your child develop better thinking and problem-solving skills by talking together about the short-term and long-term consequences of alcohol and cannabis use, even if they show little interest. It is never too soon to start the conversation. Remember, your child may be beginning to look and act like an adult, but they are still depending on you to help them make positive brain is focused on what is happening right now, basing decisions on immediate emotions rather than what consequences may happen in the future. choices to keep them healthy and safe. Their

30% reduction in underage drinking

Download MADD’s full parent handbook at madd.org/ powerofparents for more tips and strategies for having critical conversations with your child about alcohol and other drugs.

By talking to children early and often, parents can prevent dangerous and deadly

consequences from alcohol and other substances. These intentional, ongoing and life- changing conversations will help keep youth, families and entire communities healthy and safe.

HALT Drunk Driving Law As parents, we do everything we can to keep our teens safe— but right now, drunk driving remains the deadliest threat on our roads. That’s why MADD is leading the charge with the HALT Drunk Driving Law—a groundbreaking law that requires advanced technology in all new cars that will detect and stop drunk drivers. The next generation of vehicles can stop drunk drivers before they ever put your teen at risk.

Join MADD in the fight to end drunk driving for good. Learn more about the HALT Law and how you can help drive change to protect your teen’s future. Take action today: Visit madd.org/halt

National Presenting Sponsor

National Contributing Partner

National Supporting Partner

Preventing underage drinking requires a shared commitment, and MADD is grateful for General Motors’ partnership with the Power of Parents program. With their support, we are equipping more families with the resources they need to have open and honest conversations about alcohol and other drugs and their risks.

MADD’s mission is to end drunk and drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking and other drug use.

madd.org/powerofparents 877.ASK.MADD 24-hour Helpline: 877.MADD.HELP

511 E. John Carpenter Freeway Suite 200 Irving, TX 75062

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