Parents & Grandparents

Parents and grandparents, you can play a powerful role in preventing your teen from abusing medicine. The free materials and resources below are a great place to start. Our fact sheets and guides can help you learn more about prescription and over-the-counter cough medicine abuse. Find out ways to talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol (see our Parent Talk Kit) and how to monitor, safeguard and dispose of your medicine. Help spread the word in your community about this epidemic with pass-along cards and posters. You’ll also find resources for preventing drug and alcohol abuse (in English and Spanish) as well as intervening and finding help if your teen has developed a problem.

Learn About Teen Prescription and Over-The-Counter Cough Medicine Abuse

PREVENTING TEEN PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE ABUSE: Fact Sheet How many teens are abusing prescription medicine — and why? And what can parents do to prevent this risky behavior? Find answers to these questions and more in this two-page fact sheet.
GETTING HIGH ON PRESCRIPTION AND OVER-THE-COUNTER COUGH MEDICINE IS DANGEROUS: A Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Your Teen Safe This eight-page comprehensive guide takes a closer look at teen prescription and over-the-counter cough medicine abuse, with insights into this behavior, details about the types of medicine some teens abuse, prevention tips, warning signs to look for and how to get help if you suspect your teen needs help.
PREVENTING TEEN OVER-THE-COUNTER COUGH MEDICINE (DXM) ABUSE: A Parent’s Guide Did you know that one in eight teens are abusing over-the-counter cough medicine to get high? This guide provides answers to questions about teen cough medicine abuse, gives helpful tips for preventing drug abuse and offer other resources for more information.
PRESCRIPTION AND OVER-THE-COUNTER COUGH MEDICINE ABUSE: Drug Guide A chart with the 11 most-commonly abused Rx and OTC cough medicines by teens with definitions, brand/commercial names, street names, what they look like, why they’re dangerous, teen usage, important facts and signs of abuse. Learn about Codeine, Fentanyl, Morphine, Oxycodone HCL, Hydrocodone bitartrate with acetaminophen, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Flunitrazepam, Amphetamine, Methylphenidate and Dextromethorphan (DXM).
NOT IN MY HOUSE: Protect Your Kids from Prescription Medicine Abuse Every day, 2000 teenagers use a prescription medicine to get high for the first time. There are steps you can take to protect your kids by monitoring, safeguarding and disposing your prescriptions medicines. This site, created by Abbott and The Partnership at Drugfree.org, shows you how.
THE PARENTS360 Rx VIDEO: Find Out the Impact of Medicine Abuse on Real Families Watch this video (11:42), a montage of compelling, real-life stories of five families’ struggles with medicine abuse.
NONMEDICAL USE OF PRESCRIPTION STIMULANTS: What College Administrators, Parents & Students Need to Know Prescription stimulants, such as Ritalin or Adderall, are sometimes used by students who do not have a prescription or used in ways that are inconsistent with the prescribing physician’s. The reason? They think it will help them do better on a test or study more effectively. Learn more.

Take Action In Your Home and in Your Community

PARENT TALK KIT: Tips for talking and what to say to prevent drug and alcohol abuse Whether you’re a parent, grandparent or mentor to a child, there are going to be times when you need help discussing issues both big and small. With ideas on how to start talking, scripts on what to say and tips for answering tough questions — including ones about medicine abuse —this kit can help you keep the child in your life healthy and drug-free.
PROTECT YOUR KIDS: 3 Steps to Safeguard Your Home Two-thirds of teens who report abuse of prescription medicine are getting them from friends, family and acquaintances. Make sure the teens in your life don't have access to your medicine. Find out how to monitor, secure and properly dispose of unused medicine in your home.
PASS-ALONG CARDS: Help Spread the Word Help spread the word about teen prescription and over-the-counter cough medicine abuse. Cut out these cards and pass them along to parents and caregivers in your community.
POSTER: Help Spread the Word Help spread the word about teen prescription and over-the-counter cough medicine abuse. Download and print copies of this free poster and hang them up in your community to let others know about this epidemic.
CREATE A CONTRACT WITH YOUR TEEN: Put your drug and alcohol rules in writing Because teenagers are more likely to follow guidelines they help create, get together to design drug and alcohol rules that work for you both. Use this sample contract as-is or construct a more personalized version with your teen.

Resources for Preventing Drug and Alcohol Abuse from The Partnership at Drugfree.org

The Power of Grandparents Grandparents play an important role in preventing their grandchildren from drinking and using drugs. Find out how to better communicate with your teenage grandchild; learn about the latest drugs; and discover how you can keep your grandchild healthy
The Parent Toolkit A drug and alcohol prevention resource for parents with tips, guides, and videos to help keep your child safe and drug-free.
6 Parenting Practices: Help Reduce the Chances Your Child will Develop a Drug or Alcohol Problem Feel like there’s little you can do to change your teen’s behavior? Here are 6 research-supported parenting practices to set you on the right path.
A Parent’s Guide to the Teen Brain Explore the science behind teenage brain development and find out how it shapes normal teenage attitude and behavior. Find video clips, role-playing tools and practical advice from experts — all designed to help you connect with your teen.

Resources for Spanish-Speaking Parents and Grandparents

Habla Con Tus Hijos (Time To Talk) This Spanish-language web resource helps parents have frequent conversations with their kids about the risks of drug and alcohol use.
El Poder de los Abuelos (The Power of Grandparents) This Spanish-language Grandparents Guide offers ways grandparents can stay actively involved in their teenage grandchild’s life, and encourage him or her to make healthy choices.
Guía de las Drogas para los Padres (Drug Guide for Parents) This Spanish-language drug guide is a quick reference for the names, appearance, dangers, and other important information about the drugs most commonly abused by teens today.
6 Prácticas de Crianza (6 Parenting Practices) This Spanish-language guide offers six research-supported parenting practices to help raise healthy, drug-free kids.

If Your Teen Has A Drug or Alcohol Abuse Problem

Intervention e-Book Whether just suspect or know for certain that your child is using drugs or alcohol, you can never be too safe or intervene too early. Learn how to make an intervention conversation comfortable, open and productive.
Time To Act Get step-by-step advice and sympathetic guidance from top substance abuse experts, family therapists, scientists and fellow parents to help you understand why teens use and how to confront your child, set boundaries and seek outside help.
Time To Get Help Find support from other parents, friends, and loved ones of a child struggling with drugs and alcohol. Ask questions, share stories and spread messages of hope.
Treatment e-Book Learn what alcohol and drug abuse treatment is, how to find the right type of treatment for your child, how to pay for treatment, and the importance of taking care of yourself and your family.
Parents Toll-Free Helpline 1-855-DRUGFREE (1-855-378-4373) The Partnership at Drugfree.org Parents Helpline is free, nationwide support in English and Spanish for parents and other primary caregivers of children who want to talk to someone about their child’s drug use and drinking. Call us Monday to Friday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm ET. We're here to help you.