1. TALKING TO YOUR ADOLESCENT ABOUT SEX, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL COUNSELOR COFFEE TALK

2. BUILDING BLOCKS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION Turn to the person next to you and discuss a time you successfully used one of these strategies to communicate with your child Listening Praising Feeling Respecting Trusting Affirming Reflective Listening Clarifying

3. ROAD BLOCKS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION Turn to the person on your other side and discuss a time you used one of these strategies to communicate with your child Judging Rejecting Blaming Criticizing Labeling Transferring Ordering Threatening Bribing Waffling Nagging

4. TAKE AWAY Being strategic in the way you approach difficult topics with your adolescent will help you achieve your desired outcome.

5. HOW TO HUG A PORCUPINE Things to remember when talking to your adolescent about sex, drugs, and alcohol: Children know more than we think about these subjects Difficulty Talking to your Child How to Handle the Embarrassment

6. HOW TO HUG A PORCUPINE More things to remember when talking to your adolescent about sex, drugs, and alcohol: Articulate Your Own Values Family Meeting VS Private Conversation Educating or Condoning

7. DRUGS 101 Reduce Risk Factors Low academic performance, failure Poor social and/or coping skills Perception of approval of behaviors Inappropriately shy or aggressive behavior Chaotic home environment Ineffective parenting Lack of parent-child attachment or nurturing Traumatic event(s) Increase Protective Factors Strong, positive family bonds Parental monitoring of activities and peers Clear rules, consistently enforced Parental involvement (but not too much) Success in school, strong connection or involvement Adoption of conventional “norms” of drug use

8. Q&A FOR OFFICER MENDHAM WEST BLOOMFIELD POLICE LIAISON OFFICER MENDHAMC@WESTBLOOMFIELD.K12.MI.US

9. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Henry Ford Hospital Maplegrove Center 248-661-6100 Alcoholism Abuse and addiction Drugs Outpatient detox Relapse program 12-step program Varying levels of care including outpatient, intensive outpatient, day treatment, residential treatment