Talking to Your Teen about Alcohol, Cannabis & Other Drugs

Be Engaged, Communicate and Listen

Show your teen that you care by being open, approachable, and non-judgmental when communicating with them.

Start early, before they start using alcohol or other drugs and keep the conversations ongoing. Recognize teachable moments and be prepared to talk to your teen about alcohol, cannabis and/or other drugs.  Be open to hear their thoughts and what they know about alcohol and other drugs. Look for opportunities to share factual information and where they can access other resources.

Set Clear Expectations

Communicate your expectations and rules on alcohol, cannabis and other drug use with your teen. Work together to create rules and consequences, based on the age and maturity of your child.

If you are co-parenting, share your views with your partner and agree on rules and expectations together.

You are a Role Model

You have more influence on your teens than you think. Teens are watching you and can be influenced by your opinions or your own use of substances. Explore your own views about alcohol, cannabis and other drugs use.

Safety

Support your teen with planning ahead. Encourage them to communicate with you on where they are going, how they will travel there and home, whom they are with, and what they will be doing. Discuss and agree on a plan if your teen is in a situation where they need help from you or a supportive adult.

If you have alcohol, cannabis products, or other drugs and prescription medications at home, store them away in a locked cabinet, safely from children and teens.

Driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, cannabis and/or any other substances is dangerous and against the law. Talk to your teens about the importance of not driving or getting into a vehicle with a driver who has consumed alcohol or cannabis. If you are under 21 years of age there is a zero-tolerance law for impaired driving, meaning your teen cannot have any alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs in their system while driving. Encourage them to plan ahead how they will travel safely home and talk to them about other alternatives to driving, such as public transit, a taxi, or call a responsible adult for a safe drive home.

Be Informed

Resources

If you or your teen need information, support or counselling resources on alcohol, cannabis and other drugs:

• Talk to a health care professional
• Call Connex Ontario 1-866-531-2600 For free, 24/7 information on addiction and mental health

Statistics on Alcohol, Cannabis and other Drug Use Among Youth

According to the 2023 Ontario Student Drug Use & Health Survey:

• One third (36 per cent) of students in grades 7 to12 report drinking more than just a few sips of alcohol during the past year.
• One-in-ten (10 per cent) students in grades 7 to12 report binge drinking (defined as five or more drinks on one occasion) at least once in the past month.
• One-in-eight (13 per cent) secondary school students report drinking hazardously or harmfully.
• In 2023, about one-in-six (18 per cent) students in grades 7 to12 report using cannabis in any way during the past year.
• One-in-nine (11 per cent) secondary school students report using cannabis to cope with a mental health problem at least once during the past year.
• One-in-five (22 per cent) students in grades 7 to12 report using a prescription opioid pain reliever (e.g., Percocet, Percodan, Tylenol #3, Demerol, Dilaudid, OxyNEO, codeine) without a prescription in the past year.
• One-in-ten (10 per cent) students in grades 7 to12 report using cough or cold medication to “get high” in the past year.