Prevention begins at home, where youth are most impressionable. The foundation of prevention is connection, and that connection begins within the family, where values, habits, and communication are modeled every day.

Simple moments, like sharing family dinners, can make a lasting impact. Research shows that teens who regularly eat dinner with their families are less likely to drink, smoke, or use drugs (source: https://www.thenationshealth.org/content/41/9/E46).

Many parents may believe that children as young as four or five are too young to discuss substances, yet they are already listening, observing, and forming ideas. During our countywide summer camp prevention series, even four-year-olds had already heard the word “marijuana.”

That is why early prevention education, paired with strong family connection, is essential. As laws around substances evolve, such as the legalization of recreational marijuana, exposure and accessibility will likely increase. Preparing our youth through honest, age-appropriate conversations helps them understand the real consequences these substances can have on their developing brains and bodies.

Keeping open lines of communication and providing consistent guidance are some of the most powerful tools parents have to prevent substance use and promote lifelong health and resilience.