Even though teens are on a mission to exert their independence and discover themselves, parents still have one of the greatest influences on decisions they make. Before we start this discussion, however, it's important to have a solid understanding of the teen brain as it relates to preventing them from risky decision making.

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Hopefully, your teen has been introduced to prevention for a decade or more by this point so we are really building off years of a solid foundation. However, if that's not the case, jump right in. We truly believe it's never too early for prevention and it's always a good time to start.

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Prevention Strategies You Can Adopt

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• Investigate! If your gut tells you something has changed with your son or daughter, chances are it probably has. Parental instincts are one of the best tools we have to identify when something seems off. Don't be afraid to investigate - ask questions, gather your intel by looking through their belongings to see if something doesn't seem right.

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• Model healthy behavior: We all have an equal opportunity here to model healthy behaviors. This starts a lot earlier than you’d probably expect. Kids notice our habits. They soak up what they see. For example, if you think about your own family events and holidays growing up, most people can think back and describe how adults used alcohol. Some of us might remember pretty early on noticing an uncle or grandparent have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. We develop our understanding of what’s the norm around substance use and relationships very early on. Use your familial experiences as examples your child can relate to.

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• Set clear expectations: Parents remain one of the heaviest influences in a teenager's decision to engage in risky behavior. Many studies prove that students are less likely to use alcohol and/or drugs if they know their parents disapprove. Don't leave any room for confusion. Say something like, "My expectation is that you won't use drugs like alcohol or marijuana [fill in the blank]. I have high standards because I know you'll meet them and do what's right."

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• Eat together as a family! According to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, kids and teens who share family dinners 3 or more times per week are less likely to be overweight, are more likely to eat healthy food, perform better academically, are less likely to engage in risky behaviors (drugs, alcohol, sexual activity), and have better relationships with their parents.

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• Maintain an arsenal of facts: Take time to learn about the latest research. Many parents fear having conversations with their kids about tough subjects because they don't have the baseline knowledge to have a meaningful conversation about it. Prepare to be peppered with questions. Do your research and understand what might mean something to your child. Make it personal. Drill home key points: Marijuana is habit-forming and may be addictive, it affects the brain and respiratory system, and might contribute to depression, anxiety, or cancer.

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• Tap into vested interests: Point out to teens that using drugs can jeopardize something they value or are working toward: a scholarship, their first-string playing time on the court, schoolwork, their first chair in band, a perfect SAT score, passing driver's ed, getting into college, getting a job, etc.. Take your pick and make it personal.

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• Eliminate access: Easy access to alcohol, drugs, privacy or too much alone time, etc. is a risk factor to engaging in negative or destructive behaviors so to lessen the risk, you can eliminate the access. One quick example of this is where you store prescription drugs. It is so common to keep them in places where you’d see them daily – by the plates or coffee, in the bathroom, etc. – but keeping them away from public access is so important. Most kids who access prescription drugs that aren’t their own, get them from family or family of friends.

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• Understand the difference between curiosity and coping: experimentation is often associated with teenagers but shouldn't be widely accepted as appropriate in all situations. Help your teen understand the risks of experimenting and how harmful it can be. Also, look for warning signs of a mental health disorder. In many cases, a mental health diagnosis accompanies a substance use disorder. Many teens using alcohol or drugs are trying to cope with anxiety, depression, pressure, etc. Seek help from the appropriate resource if you sense an issue.

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• Ask for help! Parenting is hard. Especially when you face a difficult situation. Don't be afraid to ask for help or information from others. You are not alone.