How You Can Help Your Middle Schooler A common question we hear from parents is, “What can I do to help reduce the risk of my child using cannabis?” Consider the following case study: Lindsey has a son who is in middle school. Her son is interested in sports and spending time with his friends. Like many parents, she has heard about the underage drinking that goes on at parties and is concerned. She has talked to her son about drinking and cannabis since he was in elementary school and continues to have regular times to have the “talk” now that he is in middle school. Lindsey makes an effort to stay aware of her son’s social circles, knowing who his friends are and where he spends his time. She believes he is not interested in alcohol or cannabis but has overheard some of her son’s friends talk about beer in the past. Lindsey and her husband also model responsible behavior by drinking alcohol in moderation and not using cannabis. They recognize that their actions set an example for their son and want to reinforce a healthy, substance-free lifestyle. Many of the steps Lindsey is taking—maintaining open communication, monitoring social influences, and setting a positive example—help lower the chances of her son using alcohol or cannabis. However, there are additional things she can do to further reduce the risk.
Research shows: Parents who use medical and health research to talk with their children about alcohol and cannabis reduce their children’s likelihood of use.
What Parents Did Well
Impact on Child
Research Shows
It is never too late for parents to talk to their children about alcohol and cannabis. High-quality parent-child communication lowers the risk of substance use, even in college-age kids. The higher the quality of parent-child communication, the less likely children are to combine alcohol and cannabis and experience negative consequences. Participation in extracurricular activities is a known protective factor against underage substance use. Studies show parental modeling is associated with children’s cannabis use—parents who model low or no use reduce their child’s risk.
Talking about alcohol and cannabis since elementary school built a strong foundation for ongoing communication. Keeping up with her son’s activities and friendships helps her recognize potential risks. Her son’s involvement in sports provides structure, positive peer influences, and a natural alternative to risky behaviors. Lindsey and her husband’s low alcohol use and no cannabis use set a positive example.
Started Conversations Early and Often
Stayed Aware of Social Circles
Encouraged Healthy Activities
Modeled Responsible Behavior
47
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator