One Voice for Volusia

Connecting Our Community

Parent & Caregiver Prevention Resources

Children and teens are an important part of our community, and we want to support their healthy development. This page is dedicated to parents, family members, and caregivers and explores how you can help guide your child or teen as they grow to adulthood.

  • A young person’s brain is still developing until the age of approximately 25 years old (What Neuroscience Tells Us about the Teenage Brain, American Psychological Association)
  • The rational part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex is one of the last areas to mature; the prefrontal cortex controls decision making skills (National Institute of Mental Health’s The Teen Brain: 7 Things to Know)
  • Parents and caregivers are influencers! “60% of youth said family matters most to them more than anything else,” and “45% of youth stated that parents/caregivers are trusted sources for accurate information about substance use, right behind the 52% who share that doctors, nurses, or other health care providers were the most trusted source.” (National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s Key Findings)
  • The words we use and how our children hear us speak about other people impact their own confidence and beliefs about themselves, and, in turn, may encourage them to internalize negative self-talk; use caring and understanding language so that your young person doesn’t assume you will feel the same way about them when they make mistakes (Use Person-First Language to Reduce Stigma, Mental Health First Aid)
  • Deadly fentanyl is in the illicit drug supply and can come in the form of fake pills, vapes, and other legal and illegal drugs; just 2 milligrams (the size of a few grains of salt) is considered a lethal dose; the DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign emphasizes that taking any substances not prescribed by a medical provider is dangerous
Protective Factors (NIDA's Prevention Protective and Risk Factors) are ways in which we can help protect our children as they develop into adults. Protective Factors decrease the likelihood of a young person developing chronic illnesses, substance use disorders, and/or mental health challenges while Risk Factors increase the likelihood of developing long-term health concerns. As parents, family members, and caregivers, you can use Protective Factors to help your child develop a healthy future.
  • Create a comfortable and open relationship with your child so that they can safely ask you questions or confide in you (tip: timing is important when it comes to having a substance use prevention conversation; sometimes spontaneous conversations are best, and sometimes setting aside time to create a safe space works for your family)
  • Delay substance use for as long as possible (tip: data has shown that early initiation of substance use may increase the likelihood of developing substance use disorder, chronic illnesses, and mental health concerns into adulthood)
  • Monitor young people's whereabouts, know their friends, and ask questions about where they go/what they do (tip: while this may seem intrusive, parental monitoring is a powerful substance use deterrent and protective factor)
  • Additionally, monitor your young person's social media accounts and understand how easily illicit substances are sold through these platforms (tip: stay current on popular social media platforms and know how illicit substances are sold)
  • Establish rules and expectations around substance use (tip: when you establish boundaries, you are better able to hold your young person accountable for their actions)
  • Help your young person think of ways to counteract peer pressure to experiment or try substances (tip: encourage them to practice what they might say to remove themselves from pressured situations)
  • Encourage youth to build resilience by developing strengths and abilities around critical thinking/problem solving, empathy, perseverance, and responsibility, to name a few (tip: Resiliency Florida is one resource that has a section for parents to guide their young person)
Parents and caregivers can benefit from protective factors as well. The Center for the Study of Social Policy's Strengthening Families has a great framework that can help build resilience in your family.
  • Virtual Escape Rooms, Community Coalition Alliance (CCA); topics include Vaping, Alcohol, Prescription Drugs, Fentanyl Awareness, Mental Health, and Marijuana prevention; see what you and your teen know together to help start a conversation
  • Screen4Success, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), download the app that guides caregiver conversations
  • Sound It Out (uses music and lyric development as a methodology for parents and caregivers to explore and support youth emotional and mental wellbeing)
One Voice for Volusia is a substance use prevention organization, and we have a variety of resources for your review. Also, One Voice for Volusia staff work directly with multiple youth-serving organizations to share prevention information through activities, presentations, and tabling events. Contact us if you have questions.

    One Voice for Volusia does not endorse these organizations and instead shares the information and content as educational tools for our community members.

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