Risk Factor: Laws & Norms Favorable toward Drug Use

Laws and norms that are favorable toward drug use can significantly increase the risk of youth substance use. The laws we do and do not have can have a huge impact on the community and ultimately the norms of the community. These laws or lack thereof can influence our children’s perception of how ‘normal’ substance use is.  

Let’s talk about why. We will start with the lower perceived risk. When laws are lenient or societal attitudes normalize drug use, young people may view substance use as harmless, making them more likely to experiment. These laws can also affect the accessibility of substances like we discussed a couple of months ago. If substances are easily accessed youth may find it easier to obtain and use them. Social acceptance also comes into play.. When drug use is seen as normal or even encouraged within a community, peer pressure can lead young people to try substances to fit in. Strict laws and enforcement can act as a deterrent, while permissive policies may weaken the consequences associated with drug use, removing barriers to experimentation. Finally, media, entertainment, and social narratives that glamorize drug use contribute to a perception that using substances is desirable or without negative consequences. 

So, what can you do? It may seem overwhelming to think about these laws and most parents do not have the time or resources to encourage legislators to make or enforce these laws. I encourage you to seek out your local youth substance use prevention coalitions or your local prevention research center. Most likely, there are already efforts in your community to strengthen laws in your community that could help prevent youth substance use. You could potentially join these efforts and be a part of making lasting change that will affect not only your children, but all the children who are growing up in our community.  
 

Want more information? The Butler County We Can Be Drug Free Coalition is always looking for more members to get involved in our mission! Visit wecanbedrugfree.org or email us at prevention@thecrc.org to learn about how you can get involved today! 

Protective Factor: Identity Exploration: Love & World View

A couple of months ago we discussed how autonomy can be a protective factor for substance use. This month’s blog is just going to build on that concept as we discuss how Identity Exploration in Love and World View can also be protective factors for substance use. Before we dive in, I want to remind you that the most important thing we can do to prevent substance use with our children is to maintain a strong bond with them. When bonds are weakened or broken, our children are faced with a whole set of risk factors that could make them more likely to turn to substance use. So, I ask that you read with an open mind and remember the goal is to maintain strong bonds with our families.  

Today’s youth are exposed to more than ever. They are faced with more possibilities and information than ever before. Social Media, cell phones, and other electronic devices have changed the way of the world for our children, and they will not grow up the same way we did. So, while you may not be able to relate to your child's exploration of love or world view I encourage you to consider these reasons why it may be important for your child to do so.  

Identity exploration—whether in love, personal values, or worldview—plays a crucial role in protecting young people from substance use. Here’s why: 

• Stronger Sense of Self – When youth actively explore their identity, they develop a clearer understanding of their values and goals. A strong self-concept can help them resist peer pressure and avoid risky behaviors. 

• Increased Emotional Resilience – Exploring relationships and worldviews helps young people build coping strategies, making them less likely to turn to substances as a way to manage stress or emotions. 

• Healthy Social Connections – Forming meaningful relationships based on shared values fosters supportive friendships, which can act as a buffer against influences that encourage substance use. 

• Critical Thinking Skills – Questioning societal norms and personal beliefs enables young people to make informed choices rather than impulsively engaging in risky behavior. 

• Future-Oriented Mindset – When youth have a strong sense of purpose and a vision for their future, they are more likely to prioritize long-term goals over short-term gratification through substance use. 

When we remember our goals as parents and prioritize our child’s well-being first we are able to effectively guide and shape them into becoming productive adults in society. 

Risk Factor: Availability of Drugs

This month we are going to be focusing on something that may seem like common sense to most caregivers, but my hope is that even if you think this is something you have already considered that you may see other ways this may affect your child that you hadn’t previously thought of. Our risk factor for this month is the availability of drugs. 

Availability of drugs is something that parents have been dealing with forever.. From stealing cigarettes from Mom’s purse to refilling the vodka bottles with water over the years kids have thought of many ways to use their parent’s substances. I’ve seen parents do things like marking the liquor bottles, counting cigarettes, locking the alcohol fridge, and soo many more in effort to combat the ease of availability of substances for youth. Honestly, these parents really are onto something with their efforts, however unfortunately the ease of availability of substances spreads far outside the walls of our home.  

Let’s start by in the home though. Imagine you are a group of 13 year olds. Parents have gone out to eat or are already in bed. You can’t go anywhere because you aren’t old enough to drive, however you know that your dad leaves beer in the basement fridge, and he NEVER goes down there anymore. One thing leads to another and before you know it kids are daring each other to try a sip. Or maybe, your a 17 year old, and your mom left her vape on the counter while she went to take a shower. You’ve always wondered what it felt like, and there is no way she would ever know if you took a hit.. These situations happen every single day. Youth are so much more likely to use substances that are easily accessible to them because often, they may have not even thought of using substances before the situation presented itself. As caregivers, we must be mindful of our own substance use and how this use can present our children with opportunities to experiment with substances. I feel that every family and situation is different, but effective monitoring and intentional storage of substances can go a long way in preventing this type of substance use.  

Now that we’ve discussed the easy part, let’s talk about the part that isn’t completely in our control. According to the 2024 Missouri Student Survey 41.1% of students said it was ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to get e-cigarettes. During our March 2024 focus group we discussed with students where they got the substances and they shared that substances are sold at school, on social media, obtained from older siblings or parents, or even shared with friends. So how do we monitor this? The short answer is.. We can’t. As much as we try it can be nearly impossible for us to monitor our children 24 hours a day. So what can we do? We can make sure that we talk to our children. Make sure they know our expectations and know the consequences for substance use. We can vote for laws to make substances less available to youth by voting in favor of alcohol or tobacco density laws, limiting the number of dispensaries allowed in our town, or cities enforcing that these product be kept behind locked cabinets in stores.  

Though availability of substances is not something completely in our control as caregivers it is something that we can think about and be mindful of as we continue through our parenting journey.  

Protective Factor: Balance of Autonomy & Relatedness to Family

Hello Caregivers! Today’s protective factor is one that can be a bit difficult to balance but also is a great segway into the protective factors we will be discussing in the next few months as well. This protective factor can have such a huge impact on youth because it can provide them with the support they need along with the independence they seek. This month we are going to discuss how we as caregivers can balance promoting autonomy and relatedness to family.  

Autonomy by definition refers to the ability to make decisions independently, without external control or influence. Often, especially in the teenage years, youth crave this! They want to be able to make decisions for themselves, and don't think they should have to listen to anyone else. This can be so frustrating for parents as they watch their children make poor decisions that they know are not going to have a great outcome. However, autonomy is really something that our kids need. It is important that they learn how to make good decisions independently, because the fact is we will not always be there to make the decisions for them. We won’t always be there to talk to them about why something is or isn’t a good idea. It is crucial as caregivers that we give our children the opportunity to develop their autonomy beginning at a young age, so they are able to develop their critical thinking and decision-making skills. Ultimately, youth who do not have the opportunity to practice autonomy could face huge challenges and find themselves extremely overwhelmed when they go out on their own and are faced with all the “adult” decisions. This relates DIRECTLY to youth substance use. Most likely, the first time your child faces the decision whether or not to use substances, you are not going to be there. There could be other external influences that don’t love them the way you do, encouraging them to use. This is why it is so important that our children know how to “tune out” all external influences and decide based on what they know or want for their own lives.  

Now, on the flip side, and sometimes complicating autonomy, but is also extremely important is the ability to relate to one’s family. We know that all too often family conflict causes disruptions in even the most peaceful households. The autonomy of a child can cause conflict when the parent disagrees and wants the child to do something differently. As caregivers we set the foundation for our children. We teach them right from wrong, teach work ethics, and do our best to instill our beliefs in our children. However, sometimes despite all that we have tried to teach them as they become older their need for autonomy may make them begin to question or even change their belief systems. When this happens, we often see parents so upset, feeling like they have failed, and questioning their own parenting. But wait.... didn’t we just say autonomy is a good thing? YES! We did! It is so important that our children feel some type of relatedness to their family for many reasons. One of the most important is that children who feel they can relate to their family often have a strong bond with family members. This strong bond is CRUCIAL in preventing youth substance use! Children who can relate to their families often spend more time with loved ones, care what they think, and even want to follow in their footsteps.  

So here is the tricky part.. How do we balance giving our children the opportunity to practice autonomy while also helping them feel related to their family. I think this answer is complex and something that will look different for every child, however I think as caregivers we must ask ourselves some hard questions to completely understand. Ultimately, we must remember the goal is for us to maintain a strong bond with our children regardless of if we agree or disagree with them. We do this by keeping the lines of communication open, respecting each other, and knowing when to agree to disagree. EVEN IF your child disagrees with some of your fundamental beliefs including religion, sexuality, or political issues that does not mean that you cannot continue to have a bond with them. REMEMBER autonomy is actually a good thing and will help them to make healthy decisions in the long run.. Some easy ways to help your child feel related to their families is through establishing family traditions, partaking in hobbies you both enjoy, spending quality time together, and engaging in meaningful conversation. Parenting can be tough, but if no one told you today, you are doing a great job. 

Risk Factor: Academic Failure

Risk Factor: Academic Failure 

This month many students will celebrate graduating and starting a new chapter into adulthood. However, there are some students who are not getting to celebrate with their classmates, because even though this should be an exciting time for them, they aren’t getting to graduate. There are lots of reasons that students experience academic failure ranging from attendance and discipline issues to not getting the support they need in order to learn. Whatever the reason, academic failure can have dire consequences on the life of the student and puts them at a higher risk for turning to substance use. 

Let’s start with the why.. Why does academic failure make students more likely to use substances? There are many reasons, but we can perhaps look at some of the other risk and protective factors we have discussed in this blog. Many students who are experiencing academic failure do not see a bright future ahead, they may have an anxiety or fear when thinking about the future, which could detrimentally affect their mental health. While there could be many reasons the student is experiencing academic failure it is likely that they do not have a support system in their lives, which is also a risk factor for substance use. 

Whatever the reasons we know that academic failure is a major risk factor for substance use, so what can we do about it? The first step for parents and educators is to intervene early. The longer a student falls behind academically the harder it is for them to ever catch up. Early academic intervention is crucial to student success. This academic intervention may look like intervention classes at school, tutoring, or working on academics at home. The most effective intervention would consist of all three of these components. It is also important to identify the cause of academic failure. Does the student have an attendance issue? If so, why? Is it a transportation problem? Do they have frequent medical appointments? Do they have clean clothes to wear to school? If the student does not have an attendance problem, have they been tested for special education? Even if the student doesn’t need special education services this testing can often identify any major learning gaps or issues which may help further pinpoint the problem. Does the student have a learning disability? Is a speech problem causing them to struggle? There are so many different reasons why students experience academic failure, however working with your child’s teacher is VITAL to early intervention. Schools in our area are wonderful at offering extra support and resources, but we have to work together to get these students back on track. 

As parents we may feel overwhelmed and emotional when our child is struggling academically, however there is something we can do to help. It is important for your child to know that you value academics and think it is important for them to do well in school. Holding your child to these expectations helps them develop healthy priorities and can prevent youth substance use in the long run! 

Protective Factor: Language Based Discipline

Protective Factor: Language Based Discipline 

Hi there! This month we are focusing on another Protective Factor and that is Language Based Discipline. Just as a reminder in case you are new here, a protective factor is a factor present in a child’s life that makes them less likely to use substances such as alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and vapes. I know that discipline can be kind of a touchy subject, so I want to start by saying that we are not saying that physical discipline is a risk factor, however today we are just going to explore some of the reasons why language based discipline is regarded as a protective factor for substance use. 

 Language-based discipline can be a protective factor against substance use for several reasons, largely due to the role of communication, self-regulation, and emotional expression in promoting healthy coping mechanisms. Here’s why: 

🧠 1. Enhanced Communication Skills 

• Clearer expression of thoughts and emotions: When individuals, especially children and adolescents, are exposed to consistent, language-based discipline (e.g., discussions about consequences rather than physical punishment), they develop stronger communication skills. This helps them articulate their feelings, needs, and frustrations, reducing the likelihood of turning to substances as a coping mechanism. 

• Improved conflict resolution: Effective language-based discipline often involves teaching problem-solving strategies, which reduces impulsive or reactionary behaviors that might lead to substance use. 

💡 2. Better Emotional Regulation 

• Verbalizing emotions promotes emotional intelligence: Language-based discipline encourages children to name and understand their emotions rather than suppressing them. Being able to identify feelings like stress or sadness makes it easier to seek healthy coping strategies instead of resorting to substances. 

• Decreased impulsivity: Children exposed to consistent, language-based discipline often develop stronger self-regulation skills, which lowers the risk of making impulsive decisions like trying drugs or alcohol. 

🌿 3. Strengthened Parent-Child Bond 

• Increased trust and openness: When discipline is rooted in conversation rather than punishment, it fosters a trusting relationship between parents and children. Children are more likely to seek guidance from their parents during difficult times rather than turning to substances. 

• Modeling healthy communication: Parents who use language-based discipline model calm and thoughtful responses to challenges, teaching their children to do the same. 

🔥 4. Cognitive and Social Development 

• Improved problem-solving skills: Language-based discipline often involves reasoning and explaining consequences, helping children develop cognitive skills that support better decision-making. 

• Stronger peer refusal skills: Effective communication skills make it easier for adolescents to say no to peer pressure and advocate for themselves in social situations where substances are present. 

🛡️ 5. Reduced Risk of Externalizing Behaviors 

• Less aggression and defiance: Language-based discipline is linked to lower rates of externalizing behaviors (e.g., aggression, rule-breaking) that are often associated with substance use risk. Verbal discipline encourages reflection rather than reactive behavior. 

✅ Conclusion 

By promoting emotional regulation, strengthening communication skills, and fostering trust-based relationships, language-based discipline creates protective factors that reduce the likelihood of substance use. It equips individuals with healthier coping mechanisms and better decision-making abilities, making them less vulnerable to substance-related risks.  

Risk Factor: Transitions and Mobility

This month we will be discussing the risk factor of transitions and mobility. Transitions and mobility can put youth at a greater risk of substance use for many reasons. However, transitions are just part of life. Here are some of the reasons that transitions and mobility may put youth at a higher risk of substance use:

· Disruption of Social Support – Moving to a new environment or experiencing major life changes (e.g., transitioning from middle to high school) can disrupt friendships and support systems, leading to feelings of isolation, stress, or loneliness. Youth may turn to substances as a way to cope or fit in.

· Increased Stress and Anxiety – Transitions often bring uncertainty and pressure, whether it's adjusting to new social groups, academic expectations, or family changes. Some teens may use substances as a way to manage stress and anxiety.

· Peer Influence and New Social Norms – Changing schools, neighborhoods, or social circles exposes youth to new peer groups where substance use may be more common or socially accepted. If new friends engage in drug or alcohol use, a young person may feel pressured to do the same.

· Decreased Parental Supervision – Mobility and major life changes can lead to shifts in parental monitoring, either due to parental stress, changes in work schedules, or a lack of familiarity with a new environment. Lower supervision increases the chances of risky behaviors, including substance use.

· Identity Exploration and Risk-Taking – Adolescence is already a time of self-discovery and experimentation. When combined with major life transitions, youth may take more risks, including trying substances, as they seek acceptance and a sense of belonging.

· Exposure to New Risk Factors – Moving to a different environment might introduce youth to increased availability of substances or communities where substance use is more normalized.

· Mental Health Challenges – Transitions can trigger or worsen mental health issues like depression or anxiety, both of which are linked to higher rates of substance use as youth attempt to self-medicate.

Unfortunately, adolescence is full of transitions as youth begin to gain independence and prepare for adulthood. Here are some major transitions you may want to think about:

· Transitioning from Middle School to Junior High- This transition can cause stress for many youth as the responsibilities and school structure often change.

· Transitioning from Junior High to High School- This is perhaps one of the biggest changes that affect most all youth. There are more responsibilities, more choices to be made, and exposure to older youth who are entering the early phases of adulthood.

· College- Whether the student goes off to college or stays home and attends a local college, it is still a major change. The change in schedule allows the youth with more free time, and there is also a change in academic expectation and responsibilities. This transition can also present financial challenges that can add extra stress for youth during this transition.

· Joining a new Sports Team/ Extra Curricular- As youth get older sports and extracurricular activities may become more competitive and can require extra time and effort. This can sometimes add more pressure to the youth as they experience these changes.

· Obtaining a Driver’s License- For many youth obtaining a driver’s license is exciting, but it can also present youth with much more freedom and independence.

The other portion of this specific risk factor is mobility. While transitions are something all youth go through, not every youth has the risk factor of mobility. In this sense mobility could be a student that is moving frequently maybe to different cities or states, but it could also be a student that moves frequently from one home to another within the same city. While both are risk factors, they pose different reasons for raising the risk of substance use. If your child is in a situation where they are moving frequently, I encourage you to make sure to keep the lines of communication open with your child about how they are being affected by the move and what stress they are currently experiencing. Mobility during youth cannot always be avoided, but stability can be a major protective factor in decreasing the risk of youth substance use.

As always, it is important to remember that just because a risk factor is present in the life of a child does not mean they will use substances. As caregivers it is important that we work to limit the risk factors while also increasing the number of protective factors in a child’s life as much as possible. Transitions in a child’s life cannot be avoided, so it is important to be cognizant of the transition periods and monitor your child’s behavior and mental health providing extra support and resources as needed.

Protective Factor: Subjective Sense of Adult Status

This month we are focusing on a protective factor that is the subjective sense of adult status. I want to start out by pointing out that this protective factor is based on the fact that a youth feels like they are an adult, regardless of if you really consider them one or not.  

Having a subjective sense of adult status is a protective factor for youth substance use because it reflects an internalized belief that one has matured and adopted adult responsibilities and values. This self-perception influences decision-making and behavior in several ways: 

1. Increased Responsibility: When youth see themselves as adults, they are more likely to act in ways they associate with adulthood, such as prioritizing health, work, or education, over risky behaviors like substance use. 

1. Long-Term Thinking: A sense of adulthood often includes a focus on the future and achieving life goals. This perspective can discourage behaviors like substance use that may jeopardize these aspirations. 

1. Social Roles and Expectations: Feeling like an adult may encourage young people to conform to social norms associated with maturity, such as being a role model for younger peers or meeting family and societal expectations. 

1. Identity Development: Adolescents who view themselves as adults may have a stronger, more stable sense of identity. This can protect against peer pressure, which is a major factor in youth substance use. 

1. Association with Positive Behaviors: A subjective sense of adulthood is often linked with engaging in behaviors viewed as "adult," such as taking care of one's health, maintaining a job, or forming stable relationships. These behaviors are less compatible with frequent or problematic substance use. 

Essentially, when young people feel like they are "adults," they tend to align their behaviors with what they perceive adults should do, which often means avoiding risky, immature activities like substance use. 

As a parent, this can be tough. Below is a list of things you can try to help your child increase their responsibilities and feel like an adult in a safe way. 

• Budgeting- Let your child have an allowance or help them learn to make a budget from the money they earn.  

• Getting a Job- Part-time, life guarding, babysitting, mowing the grass..  

• Paying Bills- Choose a bill to have your child start paying like their cell phone or internet bill. 

• Making Family Decisions- Find ways to help your child be involved in making family decisions such as where to go on vacation or weekend activities. 

• Cook Dinner once a Week 

• Household Chores- Laundry, Dishes, there are so many ways to involve your children in the tasks required to manage a household.  

• Learning new Skills- Teach your child how to change a tire, change the oil, sew, or bake.  

The possibilities are endless, and you may just find that while you are trying to help your child feel like an adult you may have more time to do things you enjoy! 

Risk Factor: Favorable Parental Attitudes and Involvement

This month’s risk factor is so important. I would even argue that it is perhaps the most influential risk factor that we have ever discussed in these posts. This risk factor has to do with more than just behavior and parenting, this risk factor has to do with our instincts as human beings. This month we are going to be discussing the risk factor of favorable parental attitudes and involvement. 

As a parenting class facilitator, I have sat with countless parents over the years and discussed parenting strategies and styles, and inevitably we always start to discuss our own childhood and adolescent upbringing. I have sat with countless mothers who are struggling with addiction, and so many of them tell me the same thing, my parents gave me my first _________. You can fill in the blank.. Whether it was cigarettes, alcohol, methamphetamine, or prescription medication. You name it and I’ve probably heard it. Every time this leads us into a discussion about how this contributed to their substance use issues.  

When a child is born they have to rely on their parents for their every need. For most children they quickly realize that they need their parent and/or caretaker in order to survive. As the child grows older they may start to depend on their parents or caregivers less and less, but one thing remains the same. That is the mentality that the parent is the one who is going to take care of them and help them survive. So, when a parent offers their child a cigarette, most likely a child isn’t going to stop and question if it is safe to smoke a cigarette. They automatically believe that if their parent is giving it to them, then it is safe and acceptable behavior. This child now has a new norm. The norm is that it is okay to smoke cigarettes, and now when their friend offers them one after school they will most likely take it because their parent said it was okay.  

This risk factor is tied so closely with so many of the other risk factors we have talked about like adequate adult supervision, ease of access to substances, clear established parental expectations, and even favorable attitudes towards substances. When a parent or caretaker provides substances or uses substances with their child the child is much more likely to develop substance use disorder in the future. As parents, we cannot deny the influence we have on our children and the decisions they make.  

In March 2024, we held a Focus Group with Junior High Students in Poplar Bluff. We talked specifically about vaping and e-cigarettes. There were so many of these students who told me that the way youth obtained the e-cigarettes was from their parents. When I asked them why, they said that parents were afraid that if they didn’t purchase these products for their children, their children would obtain them off the street and may consequently come into contact with more harmful substances such as fentanyl. As a parent, I get it. I think it is important that we recognize and address what is really going on with our children, instead of making a habit of turning our heads and looking the other way. I applaud these parents for recognizing the fact that their child is using substances, and are most likely addicted to nicotine. These youth most likely aren’t going to stop using, unless we intervene with some type of course correction. I also completely understand that the idea of fentanyl or THC vapes is scary and parents feel better knowing their child is just using nicotine products. They’re right! No substance use is safe for youth, however THC vapes and Fentanyl pose a life altering and even life threatening risk to our kids.  

If you are a parent in this situation, I just want you to know that I see you, and I empathize with the position you are in. I would like to encourage parents to think about other ways we can help our youth, without providing them with substances. If you’re child is addicted to nicotine through e-cigarette use, could you talk with their pediatrician about medication to help them stop using? Would it be possible to purchase them something to help them quit such as a nicotine gum or patches? Is there a local Youth Cessation course they could take? Could you work with your child to develop a quit plan and offer them an incentive for quitting. I’ve also heard parents say that their child uses marijuana to help cope with the side effects of mental health issues. If you are a parent in this situation, I encourage you, please do your research. Research the different types of marijuana products, their THC content and their effects on a developing brain. Do some research on cannabis use disorder. Please understand when I say this, I am in no way saying there are not a time and place for various substances in life, but I do encourage you to be informed. Do your research. Work with your child to come up with the most healthy and sustainable way to deal with any issues they are facing.  

When we work with youth, I always tell them that you can’t get a brain transplant. The brain your child has now is the one they will need to use for the rest of their life, and we cannot deny the fact that substances do have a major effect on the way the brain works and functions. As parents, we know that life can be very difficult and I encourage you to help your child find ways to cope with these difficulties that don’t involve substance use.  

Protective Factor: Time in Emotionally Responsive Interactions with Children

Christmas is in full swing for our little community, and like last month this will mean lots of extra family time for many, especially those with children. This is a great time to reflect and be intentional about this month’s protective factor, which is spending time in emotionally responsive interactions with children. Just as a reminder, in case you are new to our blog, a protective factor is a factor in a child’s life that makes it less likely they will use substances. Our blog is aimed at educating parents on how they can reduce the number of risk factors in their children’s lives, while also increasing the number of protective factors with the ultimate goal of reducing youth substance use.  

This month we are focusing on the protective factor of time in emotionally responsive interactions with children. Let’s start by talking about why this is so important to our children. Basically, we are talking about situations in which our children have our full and undivided attention where we are responding to them emotionally through body language, physical touch, and our words. These situations are so important to our children because they increase the bonds between caregivers and their children, which is also a protective factor.  Our children are learning by watching us, and when in these situations our children are learning how they should respond to other people. This is important to remember and recognize that our children are learning how to respond to a situation from us, even when we don’t respond appropriately. Another reason this time is so important is because during these interactions we have the best opportunity to communicate with our children in the most effective way possible. These situations give us the opportunity to share our own experiences, beliefs, expectations, and even consequences for behavior with our children.  

Now that we have established what time in emotionally responsive interactions with children is and why it is important, let’s talk about what this may look like practically with your own child. This is an important protective factor beginning as early as infancy and continues to be important all throughout childhood and adolescence. This time will look different as your child grows and their needs change. See the chart below for examples of what this could look like as your child grows.  

Infancy 

Holding your baby 

Talking to your baby 

Singing to your baby 

Rocking your baby to sleep 

Comforting your baby when they cry 

Early Childhood Years 

Engaging in Play with your Child 

Talking with your child about how they are feeling 

Comforting your child 

Going on a Walk Together 

Feeding your Child 

Elementary Aged Children 

Engaging in play with your child 

Playing Board Games with your child 

Talking about their day with your child 

Eating Dinner Together 

Middle School Aged Children 

Playing Games Together 

Attending Child’s Sporting Events 

Watching a Movie Together 

Eating a Meal Together 

Cooking Together 

High School Children  

Discussing Future Plans Together 

Talking to your Child 

Sharing Hobbies 

Running Errands Together 

These lists are just examples of things to get you thinking about how you can make sure you are spending time with your children. In today’s world we are faced with so many distractions. Our cell phones, computer, TV, and technology can be wonderful tools, but can keep us distracted, and unfortunately our children pay the price. As a parent I know that the days are filled with responsibilities and to-do lists, but I encourage you to do some reflecting. Think about ways you can make sure you are spending time with your child and giving them emotionally responsive interactions. Start simple.. Keep your phone in the bedroom when you are at home or make sure that dinner is family time with no screens allowed. Make a rule that your child has to tell you about their day before they can play on their tablet, or schedule a family game night every Friday night. All families are different, so it is important to find what works best for your family. Remember to be consistent, and that your child needs you to be present for them. 

Protective Factor: Opportunities to Resolve Conflict in Family

The Holiday season is right around the corner, and for many this means spending time with family and friends to celebrate and reflect on the year we have had. While for many, the holidays are a happy and exciting time, I think it is important to recognize that for many others, it is not always warm and fuzzy. Anytime we find ourselves gathered with large groups of friends or family; it is very possible and highly likely that conflict will occur. The holidays also bring to light any conflict that maybe we have been dealing with throughout the year when the family comes together to sit down at the table. The bottom line is many of us will deal with some type of conflict within our families in the next couple of months. This brings us to this month’s protective factor. A protective factor is a factor present in a child’s life that makes it less likely they will use substances. The opportunity to resolve conflict in family is a protective factor that can potentially protect our youth against the harms of substance use. 

Let's start with the why. Why is the opportunity to resolve family conflict so important? There are many reasons why this is important, but perhaps the most influential reason is that family (especially during adolescence) serves as a child’s most consistent and meaningful support system. We know that having strong bonds in the family is a huge protective factor against substance use. These strong bonds are associated with better communication, learning more skills, and developing healthy relationships. When there is conflict in the family, this could lead to the weakening of family bonds, which over time could become a risk factor for substance use. Another reason to consider the importance of resolving family conflict is the development of conflict resolution skills. Anytime humans are living together there is bound to be conflict at some point. When a child gets mad at their friend, they may choose to stop spending time with that friend, however when a child gets mad at their sibling it is much more difficult for them to stop spending time together. So, it is even more important that children learn to resolve conflict within their families to foster  a peaceful and safe home environment. 

Conflict resolution is a skill that must be learned just like riding a bike or doing the laundry. This is something that as parents we must explicitly teach and model for our children, and for most this is not something children are just born knowing how to do. Teaching children how to resolve conflicts will take a lot of practice, but it may begin with conversations in the home. Teaching our children to talk about their feelings and being able to express themselves are fundamental skills when it comes to resolving conflicts, while also teaching our children to be empathetic and consider the feelings of others. When your child finds themselves in a conflict with a friend or sibling, talk to them about what they can say or how they might try to make it better.  

A couple of things to keep in mind.. The biggest way we can teach our children to resolve conflict is by modeling the behavior we want them to learn. Your children are going to see you have conflict with your spouse, family members, or even a stranger in public. We need to be mindful of how we handle these situations and remember that we are teaching our children through our own actions. Also, it is important that we teach our children to recognize that they are only responsible for their own words and actions. I am sure you can think of a time when you genuinely tried to resolve a conflict but were unable to do so because the other person simply wasn’t ready or didn’t want to. This happens, and in these situations, we don’t want our children to be blaming themselves or stressing about something they can’t change. We need to teach our children to do the best they can but learn to recognize when a conflict isn’t going to be resolved and walk away from the situation before things escalate into an unhealthy situation. 

In conclusion, I hope that this holiday season you will keep in mind the importance of conflict resolution in your family and be intentional about modeling healthy ways to resolve conflict. I also hope that you will teach your children the importance of resolving conflicts and give them opportunities to practice resolving conflicts on their own.  

2024 Missouri Student Survey: Where are we now?

Every two years there is a statewide survey given to students Grades 6-12 called the Missouri Student Survey. This survey is optional for school districts to participate in, but this year over 2,800 students statewide completed the survey, and 706 of those were from Butler County. The majority of the students taking the survey were in the 6th grade (44.8%). The remaining 55% were made up of high school students' grades (9-12). This survey asks students tons of questions, it covers things like previous substance use, substance use perceptions, behaviors, depression, parent’s perception, and resiliency. Today we are primarily going to be discussing the results of students in Butler County, and we are going to focus on the substance use indicators to determine where we are now and where are we heading. 

Perhaps the most telling portion of the survey is the past 30 day use section. This section asks students about which substances they have used in the past 30 days. The first substance addressed is tobacco (cigarettes or chew). To the surprise of many adults in the community this percentage is relatively small with only 3.5% of students reporting use in the past 30 days. Based upon my conversations with youth in the community and reviewing other data, I think this is accurate. Cigarettes and chew are just not the primary substance youth are using at this time. These substances are harder to obtain, harder to hide, and more expensive than other substances such as e-cigarettes. E-Cigarettes are by far the most commonly used substance among youth. This year’s MSS reports that 8.5% of students have used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. Some national surveys have concluded that more like 40% of high school students are actually using e-cigarettes. 6.1% of students reported using alcohol in the past 30 days which is down slightly from previous years. The final past 30 days use indicator we will discuss is marijuana. 4.6% of the student in Butler County reported using this substance. This amount has decreased slightly from the 2022 survey, however it will be interesting to see what 2026 shows us as Marijuana is now legal for recreational use in Missouri, and is much more easily accessible than in the past.  

The next section of the survey I want to discuss is the parents’ perception of wrongness. According to the 2024 survey 93.8% of students believe their parents feel it would be ‘wrong’ or ‘very wrong’ to smoke tobacco. 95.6% of students believe parents would be ‘wrong’ or ‘very wrong’ to take one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage nearly every day. Perhaps the most alarming were the statistics regarding marijuana and vape use. 92.9% said they believe their parents feel it would be ‘wrong’ or ‘very wrong’ to smoke marijuana once or twice a week and 93.1% feel it would be ‘wrong’ or ‘very wrong’ to vape. These statistics show us that the majority of youth believe their parents disapprove of them using substances. However, the number of students who thought their parents would disapprove of vaping or marijuana use was less than alcohol. I think this could have a few potential causes. It could have to do with the fact that marijuana and vapes are two very widespread substances and youth could see their parents using these substances often. I also think that there have been long-term misconceptions about the safety of using these products. Vapes or e-cigarettes have been marketed as the ‘safer alternative’ to smoking cigarettes, and while that may be true in some ways, safer doesn’t mean safe. Marijuana has been associated with being a “natural” substance and therefore safer to use. It is important to note that though this may have once been the case, this is no longer true. The marijuana being sold in dispensaries today has been genetically modified to be more potent with higher levels of THC concentration that do not occur in nature. This is such an important indicator to consider because we know through research that parent's perception of substance use is a huge factor in preventing youth substance use.  

The perception of availability section of the survey asks youth how easy they think it is to get a particular substance. There was little change in this years survey, with most youth reporting that substances were harder to obtain than in 2022. 30.8% of students said it was ‘very’ or ‘sort of’ easy to get cigarettes. 41.1% said it was ‘very’ or ‘sort of’ easy to get e-cigarettes. 36.3% reported it was easy to get alcohol, and 30.3% said it was easy to get marijuana.  

The perception of harm section asks youth if they think their is a risk associated with using a particular substance. 25% of students said they felt there was ‘no’ or ‘slight risk’ if they used e-cigarettes. Thats a fourth of our kids that believe that is safe to use e-cigarettes. This should scare us, as we know that being addicted to a substance during adolescence is indicative of future substance use, and these e-cigarettes are HIGHLY addictive for youth. Even higher, 30.4% of students reported ‘no’ or ‘slight risk’ if they drank alcohol and 30.5% believed there was ‘no’ or slight risk’ if they smoke marijuana once or twice a week. Our coalition looks at these numbers very closely because these are things we can do something about. We have to consider why these numbers are so high.. Is it because the youth see adults in their lives using these substances and think well they are fine, so I would be too? Or is it because they simply don’t know the effects of substances.. Our education around substance use largely focuses on educating youth on the harms of specific substances. We always tell our students, that we want them to know so that they can make the decision that is best for them.  

A new section on the Missouri Student Survey this year is the resiliency section. These indicators do not pertain specifically to substance use, however I still think they are important to note. 70% of students feel optimistic about the future. To be honest, this statistic scared me. That means that 30% of our kids are not optimistic about their future.. I’m sure that there are a number of factors that play into this including but not limited to poverty, abuse, and neglect. 54.2% of students said they feel they handle stress in a healthy way. This means almost HALF of our kids don’t handle stress in a healthy way. 74.9% of students said they feel they have an adult in their life to turn to when they feel things are overwhelming. The reason that I wanted to mention these statistics, is these are all risk factors for substance use. Stress, no hope in the future, and lack of adults support are all listed as risk factors that we know put kids at a higher risk for turning to substance use.  

So what does it all mean? Realistically, we really haven’t seen much difference in the reporting from the 2022 to the 2024 data. Most indicators have very little change. We know that we need to work on education about the harms of substance use. We know that we need to continue to educate parents on how to have conversations with their children about substance use. What did we learn? We learned that we NEED to teach our kids how to deal with stress in a healthy way. As adults, we may need to reflect on our own behaviors and ensure we are modeling how to deal with stress in a healthy way for our children. I think as a community we also need to really look at what we are doing for the 25% of students who don’t feel they have an adult to turn to. Get involved.. Lunch buddy, mentoring program, CASA, foster grandparents, Boys and Girls Club,  there are so many great organizations that would love to help connect you with youth who need an adult like you. 

The We Can Be Drug Free Coalition plans to use this data to continue our efforts in Butler County and do what we can do empower our youth to live drug free lives. 

Vaping: What We've Learned

As a part of the We Can Be Drug Free Coalition’s effort to decrease the number of youth who vape in our community we recognized the need to talk to the youth and learn more about how and why they are using these products. In March 2024 the coalition staff worked with a local Epidemiologist from Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health’s Prevention Department to conduct a youth focus group to learn more about how and why youth vape. The Focus Group was conducted with ten 7th and 8th grade students right here in Poplar Bluff. We asked youth a variety of questions, but all around the topic of vaping. I have to say, I work in this field. It is not uncommon for me to have conversations weekly with youth about substance use, however even I was surprised by some of the information we learned during this focus group. In this month’s post I am going to share with you some of what we learned from these youth, but if you are interested in reading the entire report from our focus group you can find the final report on our website at www.wecanbedrugfree.org. 

We started the focus group out by letting the youth know that we were talking about all types of e-cigarettes during the session, and that their answers would remain anonymous. Then  we asked the students why kids their age use e-cigarettes? The answers among students varied and included things we expected like peer-pressure and it’s cool. One response stood out to me particularly though, a student shared that most youth vape because they use these products as a “kill switch”. When we asked more of what the youth meant, they shared that these products help you get rid of unwanted thoughts or intrusive thoughts. I think it is so important that we recognize this for exactly what it is. While some students are using these products to “fit in” others are using these substances as a coping mechanism for mental health issues.  

Next, we asked the youth what substances they are vaping, and we really got a variety of answers. Most of the youth responded that youth are using products like nicotine, blank cartridges, or THC Cartridges. Then we asked how the youth knew what they were vaping since they aren’t old enough to purchase these products on their own, and the answer was simple. They said they really don’t know what they are vaping, they will just use whatever they can get their hands on. 

We also talked to the youth about how many people their age vape, and most of them responded that they believed over 40% of the students at their school vape, while some believed it was much higher and others believed it was much lower. We know from the Missouri Student Survey that this is probably an exaggeration, however they are right, a lot of students are using these products. What was more shocking was when we asked the youth about how many adults they think vape. Most participants believed that over 50% of the adults in our community vape. According to national statistics, the number of adults who actually vape is closer to 4.5%. This was a vast difference in the perception of the youth versus the reality of the adults using these products.  

Next, we spoke with the youth about how they are accessing vapes since they are not old enough to buy themselves. There were many answers given including that there are some convenience stores that sell to youth, many students get them from friends or siblings, and we had several youth share that they are getting these products because their parents buy them for them. This was a newer concept to us, however after further exploration we have learned that many parents are purchasing vapes for their children so they can be sure of the substances they are getting. Youth also reported that their parents often vape, and that it would be easy to take a vape that their parents have left just laying around the house. Finally, we talked about a more innovative way the youth are accessing these products. Youth are utilizing social media platforms such as SnapChat and Instagram to purchase these products. Youth reported that there are fake accounts that will add you on social media. These fake accounts will then post pictures or use keywords to inform users of what they are selling, and youth simply swipe up and type their address and these products are then delivered right to their doorstep. 

Youth shared that they are able to continue to use these products while they are at school and at home. At school they mentioned vaping in the bathrooms or showers in the locker rooms. Some shared that students vape in class by blowing the exhaled aerosol into their sleeve. At home the students talked about going outside to use or using while they are in the bathroom with the water for the shower running. 

Finally, we asked the youth how they thought vaping affected their health, and these youth showed that they really knew a lot about the risks of vaping. The youth mentioned things like making anxiety and depression worse as well as the physical impacts that vaping can have on your body and lungs.  

Our coalition was blown away by the amount of information we learned during this focus group. I encourage you, if you have time to read the full report, so you can learn more about how the youth responded to our questions. Overall, here are the top points we gathered that we are committed to educating our community about:  

• Many youth in our community are vaping. 

• Youth are using vapes as a coping mechanism for untreated mental health issues. 

• Youth can easily obtain access to vapes from parents, siblings, convenience stores, and social media websites. 

• Youth have a strong misperception of the number of adults who vape in our community. 

• Youth seem to be more aware of the dangers of vaping than some parents. 

If you are a parent, I would encourage you to read the report and use these facts to have important conversations with your child. Talk to your child about the dangers of vaping and why it is important to you that they don’t vape. Make your expectations around vape usage and possession clear, and make sure that your child knows the consequences of using or possessing e-cigarettes. I also think we need to work together as a community to set a positive example for our youth. We can do this through conversations about why we choose not to vape as adults and teaching them healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with mental health issues.  

The We Can Be Drug Free Coalition recognizes that we have a lot of work to do when it comes to youth vaping in our community. We are committed to continuing to gather information, identify issues, and work to actively solve these issues by implementing evidence-based prevention strategies in our community. Want to help? Visit our website to learn more about what you can do to get involved today. 

Vaping: Let's Talk About It

Vaping has become a hot topic among youth and parents of teens over the past 10 years. Vaping has been referred to as an “epidemic” among our youth, and the number of teens who report using these products is staggering. This month we are going to address the harms of vaping.  Members of the We Can Be Drug Free Coalition recognize that vaping is a huge problem among our youth and are committed to educating parents and students about the dangers of these products. We are working with local school districts, youth serving organizations, and community members to address this problem and reduce the number of youth vaping in our community. 

Most people refer to e-cigarette use as vaping, however that name can be extremely deceiving. In this blog we will continue to refer to the issue at hand as “vaping”, as it is most commonly called, however we are really talking about electronic cigarette use. This means all types of e-cigarettes including but not limited to cigalikes, pod vapes, vape pens, vape mods, and mechanical mods. Youth mostly refer to these various products as “vapes”, which insinuates that the products are emitting a vapor, which is actually not true at all. The gas emitted from e-cigarettes is not actually a vapor, instead it is an aerosol, because it contains tiny particles of various chemicals and other things including but not limited to diacetyl and other flavorings, nicotine, heavy metals such as nickel tin or lead, cancer causing chemicals, and volatile organic compounds. Sound safe? E-Cigarettes or vapes have been marketed as the safer alternative to smoking cigarettes by society, however we need to recognize the fact that safer doesn’t mean safe. Also, I think it's important to mention that we do not know the long-term effects of vape usage since these products have only been popular for the last 10-12 years. With the introduction of vapes we have seen a huge decline in the amount of cigarette use among youth, however the number of youth who report using vapes has skyrocketed over the last 10 years.  

E-Cigarette use is not safe for anyone, however these types of products pose a much greater risk to youth. We have talked about in some of my previous blogs how the effects of substances on the brain differ for a fully developed adult brain vs. The still developing brain of an adolescent, and this concept still applies to vaping. Youth are much more susceptible to addiction because their brains aren’t fully developed. Nicotine use among youth also changes the way that connections are made in their brains can affect the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. E-Cigarette use is only legal for adults age 21 and over in the state of Missouri. This brings up another potential harm as most youth are obtaining vapes illegally, which means they don’t really know what the vape has in it. These vapes could contain blank cartridges, nicotine, THC products, or other more dangerous substances. 

Vapes come in all shapes and sizes. Some are small and can be easily hidden or disguised to look like other products such as apple watches, highlighters, USB drives, and even sweatshirt or backpack strings. Some vapes also have little smell or don’t produce enough aerosol to be seen while using. This makes these products extremely dangerous because they can be used virtually anywhere anytime. Unlike regular cigarettes where it was difficult to hide, these products are so easily accessible and user friendly that it allows the user to use more often, which can lead to a higher level of nicotine addiction. It is important to recognize that these products are extremely addictive, and if your teen is using they may need help quitting. There are lots of quitting resources available, which I will include at the bottom of this post. You may also consider seeking help from your child’s doctor or behavioral healthcare provider. 

Need to know more? See the resources below to learn more about the dangers of vaping for youth, and what you can do to protect your child. Also, stay tuned for next month’s blog post. Next month we will talk about the results of our 2024 Youth Focus Group about e-cigarette use. 

Protecting Youth From the Harms of Vaping | Smoking and Tobacco Use | CDC 

Why Youth Vape | Smoking and Tobacco Use | CDC 

E-Cigarette Use Among Youth | Smoking and Tobacco Use | CDC 

Resources to Help Youth Reject or Quit Vaping | Smoking and Tobacco Use | CDC 

MyLifeMyQuit.com 

I Want to Quit Tobacco | Health & Senior Services (mo.gov) 

Protective Factor: Adequate Household Income

Today, everything seems to be more expensive than ever. We’ve seen a huge increase in prices at the grocery store over the past few years, and for most families, we are beginning to feel the impact of these changes on our finances at home. This month, we will address adequate household income, a protective factor for youth substance use. As we have discussed before, protective factors are factors present in youth’s lives that make them less likely to use substances. Research tells us that growing up in a home with an adequate household income puts our children at a lower risk for using substances.  

Let’s start by talking about the why. I feel like this is such a complex issue and emotional issue for so many parents because most are truly doing their best, and still sometimes struggle financially. Often, when families are struggling financially this stress is felt in multiple ways in the family. The inability to afford quality childcare or a single mom having to work a 2nd part time job are both situations that could lead to children spending more time unsupervised, which we know is a risk factor for substance use from our previous blogs. Children who are left unsupervised also often struggle with academics because there is no one at home to help them with their homework or make sure they study for their math test, and we also know that struggling academically is another risk factor for substance use. Perhaps in some families supervision isn’t an issue, but the income restrictions prevent the children of the family from being involved in extracurricular activities or being involved with school. Inadequate income also places stress on the parents which could lead to family conflict and/or parental substance use, which are also risk factors for substance use.  

So, what can we do about it? I want to remind you of the concept that these risk and protective factors are predictive not prescriptive. That means that just because a child has a lot of risk factors for substance use, doesn’t mean they will use substances. Also, what we can predict, we can prevent. Most children and families have some risk factors for substance use, and there are risk factors that we can’t change for our children, even if we would like to. So, what can you do? You can work as a parent to increase the protective factors in your child’s life. Adequate income may be attainable through schooling, certificate programs, or trade school. Explore your options and remember it’s okay to put yourself first for a little while if it will help better the life of your family in the long run. However, having adequate income may not be attainable for you right now, and that is okay. There are still things you can do to help protect your children, without letting your financial situation get in the way. I encourage you to explore what ways you can increase protective factors in your child’s life, and it may take some creativity with limited finances, but it is possible! Check out after school programs like Boys and Girls Club or the Wheatley Tutoring Program. These are both programs that provide a safe place for your child to go while you are at work, and they offer help with homework, tutoring, and even teach skills! You can’t afford to put your child in gymnastics classes? That’s okay! Let them try something else like joining the local 4H club or playing in a public soccer or baseball league. Maybe they could join a school club that interests them or a church youth group... These are all much more inexpensive options that will still allow your child to learn skills, find opportunities to belong, make friends, and find positive role models. If your child is struggling in school, there are lots of free options to get them the help they need without having to hire a private tutor. Talk to your child’s teacher to see if the school offers any tutoring and check out the local Library, who may offer free tutoring too! Another protective factor that doesn’t cost anything is teaching your child new skills. As an adult, you know how to do lots of things that your child may not know yet. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, gardening, budgeting, working on cars, couponing, and so many more. These are all skills you could teach your child for free! You may even find that by teaching them these skills you can pass off some household responsibilities and decrease your stress level in the home. If you are a parent to a teenager, you can also encourage your child to get a part time job! This may help alleviate some of your stress as they begin to be able to pay for some things on their own, and they are also gaining valuable life skills they will need after they leave your home.  

In summary, adequate household income is a protective factor for many reasons. If adequate income is something your family struggles with there are many things you can do as a parent to increase the protective factors in your child’s life to help protect them from substance use. Adulting is hard, and parenting can be messy. Remember to give yourself grace, and that it is okay to just do the best you can.  Today, everything seems to be more expensive than ever. We’ve seen a huge increase in prices at the grocery store over the past few years, and for most families, we are beginning to feel the impact of these changes on our finances at home. This month, we will address adequate household income, a protective factor for youth substance use. As we have discussed before, protective factors are factors present in youth’s lives that make them less likely to use substances. Research tells us that growing up in a home with an adequate household income puts our children at a lower risk for using substances.  

Let’s start by talking about the why. I feel like this is such a complex issue and emotional issue for so many parents because most are truly doing their best, and still sometimes struggle financially. Often, when families are struggling financially this stress is felt in multiple ways in the family. The inability to afford quality childcare or a single mom having to work a 2nd part time job are both situations that could lead to children spending more time unsupervised, which we know is a risk factor for substance use from our previous blogs. Children who are left unsupervised also often struggle with academics because there is no one at home to help them with their homework or make sure they study for their math test, and we also know that struggling academically is another risk factor for substance use. Perhaps in some families supervision isn’t an issue, but the income restrictions prevent the children of the family from being involved in extracurricular activities or being involved with school. Inadequate income also places stress on the parents which could lead to family conflict and/or parental substance use, which are also risk factors for substance use.  

So, what can we do about it? I want to remind you of the concept that these risk and protective factors are predictive not prescriptive. That means that just because a child has a lot of risk factors for substance use, doesn’t mean they will use substances. Also, what we can predict, we can prevent. Most children and families have some risk factors for substance use, and there are risk factors that we can’t change for our children, even if we would like to. So, what can you do? You can work as a parent to increase the protective factors in your child’s life. Adequate income may be attainable through schooling, certificate programs, or trade school. Explore your options and remember it’s okay to put yourself first for a little while if it will help better the life of your family in the long run. However, having adequate income may not be attainable for you right now, and that is okay. There are still things you can do to help protect your children, without letting your financial situation get in the way. I encourage you to explore what ways you can increase protective factors in your child’s life, and it may take some creativity with limited finances, but it is possible! Check out after school programs like Boys and Girls Club or the Wheatley Tutoring Program. These are both programs that provide a safe place for your child to go while you are at work, and they offer help with homework, tutoring, and even teach skills! You can’t afford to put your child in gymnastics classes? That’s okay! Let them try something else like joining the local 4H club or playing in a public soccer or baseball league. Maybe they could join a school club that interests them or a church youth group... These are all much more inexpensive options that will still allow your child to learn skills, find opportunities to belong, make friends, and find positive role models. If your child is struggling in school, there are lots of free options to get them the help they need without having to hire a private tutor. Talk to your child’s teacher to see if the school offers any tutoring and check out the local Library, who may offer free tutoring too! Another protective factor that doesn’t cost anything is teaching your child new skills. As an adult, you know how to do lots of things that your child may not know yet. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, gardening, budgeting, working on cars, couponing, and so many more. These are all skills you could teach your child for free! You may even find that by teaching them these skills you can pass off some household responsibilities and decrease your stress level in the home. If you are a parent to a teenager, you can also encourage your child to get a part time job! This may help alleviate some of your stress as they begin to be able to pay for some things on their own, and they are also gaining valuable life skills they will need after they leave your home.  

In summary, adequate household income is a protective factor for many reasons. If adequate income is something your family struggles with there are many things you can do as a parent to increase the protective factors in your child’s life to help protect them from substance use. Adulting is hard, and parenting can be messy. Remember to give yourself grace, and that it is okay to just do the best you can.  

Risk Factor: Media Portrayal of Substance Use

Recently, the We Can Be Drug Free Coalition staff conducted a Focus Group with ten students who are currently in the 7th and 8th Grade in Poplar Bluff. The findings from this Focus Group were insightful, and the staff learned a lot about how the youth perceive substance use. One of the questions we asked the youth during this Focus Group was “How many adults vape in Poplar Bluff?” Over half of the participants in the focus group shared that they believed that over 50 -60% of adults in Poplar Bluff vape. A 2021 study published by the CDC shares that the percentage of adults over 18 who currently vape is actually 4.5%. Products - Data Briefs - Number 475 - July 2023 (cdc.gov) This was shocking to our staff and coalition because of the VAST difference in how youth think that so many more people vape than actually do. This has brought up some great conversation among our coalition about how and why this misconception has come to be and what we can do to change it. That brings us to this month’s risk factor, which is the media portrayal of substance use.  

During our Life Skills classes with High School students, we do an activity with the kids by choosing a popular song off the radio and having them listen and highlight every reference to substance use in a copy of the lyrics. The kids are always shocked to see just how many references a popular song has to using substances. I challenge you, tonight when you are watching your favorite show, count how many references there are to drugs or alcohol throughout the show. I think you will be surprised to find that these references are so prevalent among the media we consume that most of the time we don’t even notice them anymore.  As adults, our brains are fully developed, and we can rationally think about these television shows and songs on the radio and know that even though it may seem that everyone is using substances, that is not true. However, for many young people, their brains have not yet developed this skill. So, when they see all the adults on TV going to the bar and drinking after work, in their minds, this has become a reality for them, and this must be what all adults do. 

It is easy to see in today’s culture how the media plays such a vital role in portraying substance use and how it is often overemphasized and does not paint a realistic picture of how many adults use substances. So, what can we do about it? Ultimately the very best thing we can do for our children is to talk to them about the realities of substance use and set a good example by creating positive norms in our household. It is important that we monitor our children’s media intake. Whether that be movies, tv shows, music, social media, or video games, we should be monitoring what our children are watching and listening to. Even if they don’t realize it the media portrayals are shaping their world view and perception of substance use, and these perceptions will most likely follow them into their own adulthood. As your child gets older and into the teenage years, it may seem to be too much to monitor their media usage, and at this point it is important to talk to your children about how the media can often portray things that aren’t realistic. Give them examples as you watch adult shows together and open the lines of communication to talk about what is and isn’t normal when it comes to substance use. Creating positive norms in our household is perhaps one of the most impactful things we can do as parents to prevent substance use with our children. When I say “norms” I am referring to what our kids grow up thinking is normal behavior. For example, if every night at the dinner table one parent drinks beer with their dinner that becomes the child’s “norm” and contributes to their belief system in what is acceptable behavior for an adult. If every night at the dinner table the parents drink sweet tea with their dinner, then the child will develop a different “norm”. Now, with that said, I want to mention that this is not a blog devoted to preventing adult substance use, and ultimately adults are entitled to their own opinions when it comes to making decisions about their own substance use. I am simply trying to use this point to illustrate the effect that parental substance use could potentially have on our children, even when it isn’t intentional.  

In summary, the media surrounds our children and families in today’s world where technology is so deeply integrated in our lives. As parents and caregivers, it is important to be mindful of how the media can shape our children’s perceptions about the realities of substance use. We must work with our children to communicate these realities and help them develop healthy beliefs and “norms” and behaviors when it comes to substance use.  

Protective Factor: Understanding of self and others’ emotions (EARLY CHILDHOOD)

Generally, when we talk about protecting youth from substance use we think about Middle School, Junior High, and High School students. We usually focus on this population specifically, because research tells us that these students are the ones having to make decisions about if they should or shouldn’t use substances. Today’s protective factor though is going to focus on young children between the ages of birth – 6 years old.  

This month we are going to focus on the protective factor of understanding self and others’ emotions. Remember, a protective factor is a factor present in a child’s life that makes it less likely they will use substances. I feel like learning to understand emotions of ourselves and others is something that we spend our entire lives doing, but it is also something that begins very early in life. Just like many of the other protective factors we have talked about this is a skill that needs to be taught, learned, and practiced in order for a child to be able to apply the skill in everyday life. I’m sure you can think of someone in your own life who perhaps struggles with understanding others’ emotions. Think about how that lack of empathy and understanding can make their life harder. It is crucial to be able to understand our own and others’ emotions to work with a group, have healthy relationships, and develop friendships. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when people who struggle with emotional understanding also struggle with these areas.  

As I said earlier, understanding self and others’ emotions is something that we work on our entire lives, but it begins in our early childhood years. By taking the time to explicitly teach our young children this skill and help them develop the skill as they grow we are able to prepare them for situations and relationships they will have later in life. So how do we do this? How do we teach our children to understand their own and others emotions. Let’s start with self. If you’ve ever been around young children for an extended period of time, you have most likely seen some kind of tantrum or emotional breakdown. Oftentimes, when children are this young that is because they do not know how to express their emotions in any other way, so they resort to what they do know which may include kicking, yelling, crying, or screaming. The best thing we can do for children when they are beginning to deal with emotions is to teach them how to verbalize what they are feeling. They know they are feeling overwhelmed, however they don’t know the word for it. So, we can ask our children what they are feeling, listen to what they have to say, then help give them the words to explain the emotion. This might go something life:  

Parent- “Can you tell me what your feeling?” 

Child- “I am trying to zip my jacket, but it won’t zip!” 

Parent- “I understand, you are getting frustrated because you are having trouble getting your jacket zipped. Can you say frustrated?” 

Child- “Frustrated.” 

Parent- “Now, let’s try this repeat after me-- ‘Mommy, I am frustrated because I can’t zip my jacket, can you help?’ 

Child- “Mommy, I am frustrated because I can’t zip my jacket, can you help?” 

Parent- “Well sure! I would be happy to help.” 

This may seem silly, and I know that in the rush of parenting it would be easier to just zip the jacket and not have this whole conversation, however it is important that we teach our kids how to verbalize what they are feeling so they can learn to express their emotions in a healthy manner. When it comes to humans, emotions will be expressed one way or another, but it is up to us as parents and caregivers to guide our children to express their emotions in a way that is healthy and meaningful.  

Next, let’s talk about understanding others’ emotions. This can perhaps be more challenging for children at a young age. However, we know from Piaget’s stages of child development that this is completely normal. Children tend to be egocentric while they are in the preoperational stage (ages 2-7). This is a natural part of development, so it is extra important for us to begin working with children in this stage to understand the emotions of others. You may need to start by teaching your child the words for emotions like sad, mad, angry, happy, etc. Then you could even use picture cards and have the child practice what emotion is being shown on various faces. This helps them learn to associate body language and facial expressions with emotions, which is an important part of learning how to understand others’ emotions. As your child grows a little older, I encourage you to look for teachable moments in life. For example, a few weeks ago we were at the store and there was a child near the toy isle that was very loudly crying and yelling at his grandmother. My child immediately looked at me wide-eyed and asked why that child was yelling like that. I responded to my child with a question, “What do you think that child was feeling that was causing them to act that way?” He immediately responded with “I bet he wanted a toy and his grandma said no.” Our conversation then continued and I asked my child to recall a time he had felt that same way. He did, then we talked about what you should do in that situation and how would be the appropriate way to express your emotions. This is a small example, however it is a real situation that happened in our lives that I was able to use as a ‘teachable moment’ to talk to my son and help him understand another child’s emotions. These conversations don’t have to be fancy, however as long as we continue to have them we are helping our children learn and practice the skill of understanding others’ emotions.  

This topic is such an important one, and I feel as this blog has only scratched the surface. If you have a young child, I encourage you to do your research and learn all you can to help your child understand their own and others’ emotions. I am including some links that may help you get started in your research. 

How to help kids understand and manage their emotions (apa.org) 

How to Teach Kids About Emotions | Psychology Today 

How to Help Your Kid Understand and Express Emotions | Psych Central 

Responsibility

Protective Factor: Responsibility 

I think it is safe to say that we can all agree that responsibilities are a part of life. Even if sometimes we wish we had less responsibility, it doesn’t change the fact that as adults there are just things we have to do. I often think back to my childhood and teenage years and think about how great life was, when my biggest worry was what I was going to wear to school or what my me and my friends were going to do for fun. Today we are going to be talking about how responsibility is actually a protective factor for substance use.  

Teaching youth responsibility is so important for many reasons and is connected to many of the other protective factors we have discussed in past months. As youth enter their teenage years it is essential that they begin to learn responsibility in preparation for adulthood and leaving home. Teaching responsibility is actually something that we can and should begin to teach in Early Childhood. We talked briefly last month about how important it is for youth to learn skills before the leave home, because if they don’t it can make the transition to college life even more difficult and overwhelming for them. If we wait until the teenage or late teenage years to begin teaching our children responsibility, it is likely that we will find there is too much to teach and not enough time to make sure our children can learn all the skills they need without becoming overwhelmed and frustrated, which could potentially weaken the family bonds.  

Responsibility is going to look different for every child at every age. For example, a child in their toddler years may begin to learn responsibility by learning to throw away their trash when they are done with a snack, pick up their toys when they are done playing, or even learning to dress themselves. As children grow older and they have mastered these responsibilities, then it is time to add new ones to work on. A 5 year old child may learn how to brush their own teeth, feed a pet, help unload the groceries, or water the plants. A 10 year old child may have responsibilities such as helping set the table and prepare the meals, taking out the trash, cleaning the bathroom, and putting away or helping with laundry. A 15 year old may have responsibilities such as yardwork, laundry, cooking, cleaning, and possibly even a part-time job.  

It is important to remember that all of these responsibilities are skills that we must teach our children and give them a chance to master the skills before expecting them to complete the tasks independently. If we add in too many things at once our children could become overwhelmed and feel like giving up. When introducing a new responsibility to your child always explain why it is important that they learn that skill and how they will use it in their everyday life. Talk to your child about how they are growing older and tell them you are proud of them for all the responsibilities they manage. This will help your child see this responsibility as a part of growing and maturing, not as a form of punishment. 

So why is responsibility a protective factor? Responsibility provides accountability for youth. Responsibility also gives youth a sense of purpose and belonging in a family. Teaching responsibility from a young age helps prepare youth for life outside the home and ensures they have the skills they need to be successful in life. Responsibility also teaches youth how to prioritize their time, money, and efforts. As parents, we often feel tired and overwhelmed managing all the responsibilities that come with working, adulting, and especially parenting. You may find that as you work with your child to teach them responsibility it may also lessen your load and give you more time to focus on things you enjoy, which can in turn help strengthen the family bonds. Not sure where to start? Think about your child’s day from the time they wake up until the time they go to sleep. Make a list. What things do they do? What things are done for them? Are there any of the tasks you do that they could begin to take over or learn more about? Once you have a list of age-appropriate responsibilities for your child, it is time to prioritize. Decide which responsibility you would like your child to master first, then once they have mastered that responsibility move on in your list to the next one. You can keep doing this until your child has mastered all the things you had written, and most likely by that time you will begin to see other responsibilities that your child could begin to work on because you will see the growth that has come with having responsibility in the home.  

Risk Factor: Attending College

College. Many of the youth I work with associate this word with one thing, FREEDOM. It may not come as a surprise to you that attending college is a risk factor for youth substance use. Of course, there are obvious reasons like the lack of adult supervision and changes in expectations. There may be some other reasons that contribute to youth using substances that you may not have thought about. You may feel that as a parent or caregiver that there isn’t anything you can do about it since they are no longer living with you, but we are going to discuss strategies you can implement and other protective factors that may help you protect your child against youth substance use.  

Let’s begin by talking about the reasons many college students are at a higher risk for using substances. The first and possibly most obvious reason is the lack of adult supervision. Especially for youth who come from a household with lots of parental monitoring, the newfound freedom of living on their own may cause some youth to go a little too far. The expectations of parents or caregivers are no longer being monitored, and it may seem to the youth that there are no longer any consequences of not following their parents’ expectations.  Another reason is that college can be extremely stressful. Many youths may find the academic portion or the responsibilities that come with living on your own to be extremely overwhelming. Often, this stress and overwhelming feeling can cause youth to develop unhealthy coping mechanisms and lead to substance use. Another risk factor that comes into play when youth attend college is having friends who use substances. When youth go to college, they are often forced to make new friends and may feel the need to use substances to ‘fit in’ with a new crowd. It is possible that using alcohol and other drugs may become the norm of the people they are around, and we know that these norms can also put them at a greater risk for using substances. 

Now that we have established many of the reasons that going to college may put youth at a higher risk for using substances. Let’s talk about what you can do about it as a parent. It may seem like you have lost control and there isn’t much you can do once your child is out of the home, but as a parent there are things you can do. The most important work you can do to prevent youth substance use in college occurs before they leave home. You aren’t going to be there to monitor your child’s behavior while they are away at college, so your expectations may have to shift. We know that a crucial part of effective family management is not only having expectations, but also being able to monitor the behavior to see if those expectations are being met. Since you will no longer be able to monitor the expectations like coming home at curfew or checking their room for substances, you may find that you have to shift your expectations to things you can measure. Instead of the expectation being no drinking allowed, the expectation may shift for a college student to passing all their classes that semester. This is when the important conversation can come into play with your child. Talk to your child and explain to them that just because there is no longer a parental given consequence for staying out all night, there is still a consequence to that behavior. Talk to your child about how that consequence might play out like not making it to class on time or not being well rested for an exam. Then, reinforce to your child that your expectation is that they pass all of their classes that semester. You can monitor this expectation by asking your child for a copy of their grades once they are posted.  

Let’s talk about stress. College can be stressful for lots of reasons. The overwhelming workload, hard classes, learning to balance work and free time, learning the responsibility of living on your own, working a job, financial stress.. I could go on, but basically we know that the transition of going to college can ultimately be very stressful for youth and stress can lead to substance use. Here are a few things you can do to help your child manage the stress that comes with college. There are two things you can do to help your child before they ever leave home. The first is to teach them skills. Laundry, cooking, cleaning, budgeting, waking up on time, studying, time management, working, and even relaxing are all skills necessary for your child to be successful when they are away at college. These are also all skills that they can learn before they ever leave to go to college. Think about it, if a child doesn’t know how to do laundry, then they are going to have to spend time learning how to do it once they go away at school instead of focusing on studying for an exam. As parents we need to teach our children all these different skills and give them a chance to practice these skills BEFORE they leave for college. This gives them a chance to learn, make mistakes, and ask questions before they leave the safety net of home. The other thing we can do is to make sure our children have healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with stress. We can’t prevent our children from dealing with stress in their lives, however we can teach them how to cope with it in a healthy way. Stress management can look different for different people, so it is important to help your child find what works for them. Exercising, meditating, reading, hanging out with friends, shopping, fishing, hiking... there are so many healthy ways to reduce the stress in our lives and it’s important that our children know what to do to reduce the stress they are feeling. We’ve talked about a few things you can do before your child leaves home, but what can you do when they are at college and dealing with stress? We can offer support. Whether it be through phone calls, text messages, sending care packages, or going for a weekend visit, there are lots of things we can do to show our children that we support them and that they are loved.  

The last risk factor that we are going to address today is having friends that use substances and societal norms. Though it may not be possible for you as a parent to change the societal norms of college life, it is possible for you to establish strong positive norms with your child before they ever leave to go to college. If your child comes from a home, where using alcohol is not the norm, they will remember this, even if it seems like everyone is using alcohol when they are at college. Also, talk to your child, tell them your concerns and encourage them to find activities to join in college that they enjoy so they are able to meet new people in a safe way where they don’t feel they need to use substances to ‘fit in’. 

In summary, going away to college is a big transition for many youth, and this transition does put them at a higher risk for using substances. For parents and caregivers this transition can be frightening as we all want our children healthy and safe. It is important to think about these transitions and begin planning for them long before they happen to help prepare our children the best we can. At the end of the day college and the freedom that comes with it is a great experience for many youth, and we just want to make sure we are securing protective factors in our children’s lives to prevent the harms of youth substance use. 

Protective Factor: Extended Family Support

This month’s protective factor is extended family support. I’m sure you’ve heard the term “it takes a village” to raise kids, and if you’ve been a parent for very long you know this is absolutely true. However, when it comes to that “village” some families are more fortunate than others. This month we are going to talk about how having extended family support is a protective factor for your child against youth substance use, and what you can do about it if you do not have these kinds of supports.  

Let’s start with the why.. Having the support of extended family is a protective factor for so many reasons and it is strongly correlated with many of the other risk and protective factors we have talked about in the previous months. One reason having the support of extended family is a protective factor is they can help you watch the kids! A couple of months ago we had an entire blog post focused on how lack of adult supervision is a risk factor for substance use. Having the support of extended family can help negate this risk factor simply because they can be there to supervise your kids when you can’t. Family can also help provide your children with more strong bonds, which also prevents against substance use. Also, let’s face it, there comes a time during parenthood when it doesn’t matter what you say to your child, they simply can’t believe it because you’re the one saying it. This can be a great opportunity for trust extended family members to step in and have conversations with your child, and coming from someone else, they may be more inclined to listen. We can also go back to the protective factor of learning new skills, and this can be a great place for extended family to come in as well! I’ll never forget my grandmother teaching me how to crochet and my uncle teaching me how to drive a stick-shift. Most likely there are skills that many of your extended family members would love to share with your children! Finally, sometimes the best thing you can do for your children is take a break. Parenting is overwhelming and can be exhausting at times. When you are able to rely on the support of extended family members to refill your own cup, you will be able to be a better parent to your children.  

I am well aware that not everyone has the support of extended family. Maybe you don’t live near family, or maybe you’ve decided it is best for you and your children to not have the extended family as a part of your lives. Just because you don’t have the support of extended family does not mean that you cannot create this type of community for your children. When I think about the lives of my own children, some of the most influential adults in their lives are not related by blood, they are simply friends who have turned into family. So if you don’t have a “village” I encourage you to find one. This may be friends, neighbors, church members, or even parents of your children’s friends. This type of support is a protective factor against youth substance use, and you may just find that it improves your own life as well.