Last updated: October 25, 2024

Making time to come together and talk openly and honestly with your children and family about complex issues like substance use and overdose can help build positive connections and enhance resilience. 

The resources below provide advice on how you can begin and continue having conversations about drug use with your kid, teenager, or even your adult children.
 

Talking openly with kids from an early age about all drugs-including those prescribed by doctors, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and illicit drugs-helps them to understand what they are. Providing them with a good example helps them learn how to use drugs appropriately. Through conversation and mentoring, you can guide them towards healthy decisions later in life.

Some teens will have been introduced to opioids as medication (e.g., T3s after dental surgery). Others may try using other people’s prescription opioids. And a very few may experiment with opioid street drugs like heroin or fentanyl. As a parent, you are the number one influence on your child's choices in life, even when it comes to drug use. Talking with them about your values, practices, and expectations can reduce the likelihood of harm.

If your teen is graduating, they may take part in high school graduation parties like many grade 12 students across the province.

The guidebook Life Starts Now - How to Plan a Dry Grad (PDF, 558KB) describes dry grad planning from start to finish. It incorporates ideas for success from previous dry grad organizers and provides information on specific B.C. legislation relevant to dry grad planning. For more information related to a healthy school experience, visit Healthy Schools BC.

For more information about talking to your teens about substance use and overdose you can visit:

• Government of British Columbia – Talking to Youth
• Government of Canada – Talking with Teenagers About Drugs

As your child becomes a young adult, you can still help them make healthy life decisions by maintaining good relationships and having conversations that encourage healthy behaviour. This includes conversations about their decisions around substance use, including alcohol, medications and other drugs.

To watch a video about the importance of talking to your children about substance use; or to hear stories from families, first responders, and those in recovery, click on the links below.

• Fraser Health – How to Talk to Your Kids About Drugs
• Government of British Columbia - Reducing Stigma: Overdose Awareness Stories