As another school year approaches, you have no doubt made your back-to-school checklist so that your child can start the school year off right. New shirts, new shoes. Check. Pencils, erasers, notebook paper. Check. Questions to ask your child about drugs and alcohol? Get it on the list!

As you prepare your child for a new school year, it is a must to include conversations about substance use, including your “zero tolerance” stance. Research shows that adolescents are at a higher risk of first-time use during periods of “change,” in order to cope with stress. A new school year may bring many new changes: new grade, new school, new teachers, new coaches or new friends. Don’t let these common tween changes cause your child to experiment with substances.

Know! reminds parents and mentors to:

• Talk. Be clear that using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs is not acceptable. Let your child know that you would be very disappointed if he/she chose to use.
• Listen. Provide opportunities for your child to talk about changes happening in their world. Ask open-ended questions like, “How are you feeling about the new school year?”
• Help build confidence. Teach your child how to “break the ice” with new people, by asking things like, “What were you up to this summer?”
• Be a role model. Set a good example by being a consistent, positive presence in your child’s life.

Substance Abuse Prevention: The Intersection of Science Practice. Pgs. 18-19. Julie Hogan, et. al. University of Nevada, Reno. 2003.