Does the idea of talking to an adult about alcohol and drugs feel a little awkward? That’s not unusual. There are a lot of issues you may not be comfortable discussing with just anybody. But, your parents or guardians may surprise you with their ability to help you develop your own capacity to make healthy choices.

Why Talk to Parents or Other Trusted Adults?

A lot is asked of you at this point in your life so it doesn’t hurt to talk things through first. You can talk to your parents, your friends, the school nurse, your family doctor or a counsellor about what you think and how you feel towards alcohol and drugs. All of them can help increase your understanding of a difficult situation. You’re on your way to adulthood, and learning to make healthy choices now is important to your future.

Here’s one example to show you that it’s normal for youth to rely on the perspective of their parents or guardians. In a recent poll by Health Canada (2003), 87% of young people said they would trust their parents or guardians for information on marijuana. For most youth, parents are amongst the most influential persons in their lives.

This British SupportLine Web site explains more on the relationship between youth and their parents, including how to raise issues like alcohol and other drugs with them.

Please note: Although the information on this Web site is valuable for Canadians, the contact names, support organizations and telephone numbers are restricted to people in the United Kingdom.

Substance Use by Parents or Guardians

You may also be worried about the use of substances by your parents or guardians . You may be asking yourself questions like: "Why does my mom or dad drink so much?", "When I grow up, will I have an alcohol problem too?" or "What can I do so that I don’t ever have an alcohol problem?". Find out the answers to these questions in this article from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Help Your Parents or Guardians

What if your parents or guardians want to talk to you but aren’t sure how they should go about it? The Canadian Health Network site also has advice for parents and provides some guidelines that could be helpful for all of you.

The quiz and discussion guide from the booklet "Straight Talk About Marijuana" may also be useful to start engaging the discussion.