April Talking with Teens about Cannabis Tonight: We have the best intentions as parents! Keeping conversations relevant to our teens. Information & approaches to try. Mary Anne Crabtree, MSW, Boys & Girls Club Alexandra Wilson, M.Ed, Vancouver School Board
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis We talk with our kids every day …but do we listen?
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis Talking with youth starts with listening Take the time to connect with your teen first. Start off with exploring their perspective. Put your perspective temporarily aside. Stay curious (pretend it’s someone else’s teen)
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis Offer Psychological Freedom Teens need to explore ideas and thinking. Even (especially!) zany, silly, scary, annoying ideas. Let them express them to you. By listening & exploring…you stay the person they can talk to.
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis Mr Jones loves my idea for the app! I’m gonna quit school so I can work on it full time!
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis Is anybody listening?
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis Listening shows you’re interested Listening & exploring their thinking is not giving permission or endorsing ideas. Listen & set boundaries “I am interested in this conversation but it’s hard to listen with you swearing at me.” …Set limits on behaviour, not ideas
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis “That’s so cool that Mr Jones thinks it’s a good idea. Tell me about it.” “I had no idea you were so entrepreneurial.”
FACTS to know about teen use: 1. Younger use is riskier than older use 2. More (quantity/frequency): riskier than less 3. Context matters 4. Reasons matter April Talking with Teens about Cannabis Thanks to Dan Reist (Centre for Addictions Research BC) for the 4 finger guidelines.
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis “You sound curious about the 420 rally.”
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis Your teen may not be happy. Maybe that’s ok.
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis Talking about cannabis: HELPFUL: Stay calm; listen; ask what they think first! Explore the reasons to DELAY Be clear about your expectations & perspective NOT SO HELPFUL: Focussing only on long terms effects Scare tactics Lying about or exaggerating the risks
Making “Delay” Meaningful 19 years old Move out First love graduate Driver’s license First heartbreak Choose my own classes travel 13 years old Fail a class Drop math vote Change schools Lose a friend job reputation
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis Ways to begin… Ask broad questions about society, culture use in general. Ask what other youth think. “I heard on the radio…” What do you think? “I went to this presentation the other night and it made me wonder…” What are youth saying about the cannabis dispensary down the street?
What about socializing? There are lots of ways to socialize, make friends, date, experience excitement and risk: Drama, theatre sports, horseback riding, snow/skate/long/skim boarding Competitive anything (paintball, music, biking) All ages concerts; Film Fests; sporting events Making movies, games, You Tube videos Volunteering with friends (horse sanctuary, SPCA, day cares, waterway rehabilitation) April Talking with Teens about Cannabis
Be clear about your expectations. Set limits. As they mature, adapt your parenting. AND Stay Connected, support healthy activities: Support their passions Strengthen what’s going well It’s not all about “drugs”! April Talking with Teens about Cannabis Parents: Neither Dictator nor BFF
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis
youth support SACY Teen Engagement Program: three day education parent support & workshops – communication skills for parents; Teens and Substance use; relationship building with teens, etc. health/youth/addiction/addiction Vancouver Coastal Health Youth Addictions Services April Talking with Teens about Cannabis
youth support SACY Teen Engagement Program: three day education parent support & workshops – communication skills for parents; Teens and Substance use; relationship building with teens, etc. health/youth/addiction/addiction Vancouver Coastal Health Youth Addictions Services April Talking with Teens about Cannabis
Boys and Girls Club Odessey I & II / Nexus – substance abuse counseling services Parents Together – parent support & education for parents of teens McCreary Centre Society researches and publishes the Adolescent Health Survey (AHS) Over 100,000 students have participated in the survey since April Talking with Teens about Cannabis
– practical activities and articles for youth and adults. – mental health, substance fact sheets, discussion tips & more – Centre Addiction & Mental Health Centre for Addiction Research BC Alcohol Drug Service Education: prevention tips for families April Talking with Teens about Cannabis
April Talking with Teens about Cannabis What is a helpful way for a parent to approach a youth who is struggling?
What do caregivers do that really works for you as a way to communicate? April Talking with Teens about Cannabis
How have caregivers helped you reduce or stop your use? April Talking with Teens about Cannabis
Reasonable guidelines? Grade 8 or 9: No “party parties”…can you support other activities? Grade 10: An occasional party without your teen drinking or drugging? Grade 11 & 12: Is your youth interested? What do they know about moderation? Can they put it off? (Turning 19 doesn’t suddenly mean alcohol and drugs are a good option) April Talking with Teens about Cannabis