Early conversations
It’s difficult to talk to your child about drugs and alcohol if you don’t generally talk to your children about other topics as well.

Rule Number 1: Talk to your kids.  Also if you start talking about “no use” when kids are little, it is easier to have the conversations when they are bigger.
 
Rule Number 2:  Listen to your kids.  It may be easier to ask their opinion about what they think about other kids who use alcohol and drugs rather than directly ask them about their own use. 

Rule Number 3:  Kids listen to you.  Some parents use a technique of talking to one another in earshot of their son or daughter and purposefully allow the child to overhear their concern about the consequences of alcohol and drug use, i.e, Mr. Smith lost his job because he kept showing up late to work because he was drinking heavily the night before.  Often timestime’s youth will tune in to a greater degree to adult conversations they think they’re not supposed to hear!
source: ADAD

Marijuana Use Rises During Summer Months http://family.samhsa.gov/monitor
/marijuanarises.aspx This article encourages increased adult vigilance of children's activities during the summer months to reduce the risk of youth substance use. The article gives tips about what parents can look for and do to maintain children's physical and mental health.

Summer Friendships and Increased Risk of Drug Use http://family.samhsa.gov/teach/
summerfriendships.aspx Supporting data in this article show that parents typically do not know their children's friends well. The article focuses on unsupervised summer activities where youth are forming new relationships and highlights how a child's ability to choose friendships wisely could reduce instances of peer pressure to experiment with drugs.

Teen Girls Drink More Than Boys
http://family.samhsa.gov/talk/girldrink.aspx Alcopops are sugary drinks that can contain more alcohol than most beers. Its sugary taste makes alcopops a drink of choice for teen girls. A recent survey says that teen girls drink alcopops more than other alcoholic drinks. This article reviews teenage girls' drinking habits and the related risks. Adults are encouraged to talk with children about the dangers of underage drinking, which can increase during the summer months.

Too Many Kids Are Wasting Their Breath on Inhalants
http://family.samhsa.gov/talk/inhalants.aspx Inhalants are cheap, legal, and available; however, inhalants can be harmful and even deadly. This article presents an overview of inhalant-use products found in the home and teen inhalant abuse. Parents are encouraged to be vigilant of their children's activities and talk about substance abuse, especially during the summer months when children are more vulnerable to experimentation and danger.

*******************************************************
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration developed A Family Guide To Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy & Drug Free (http://family.samhsa.gov) to support adults--parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, and other youth mentors--in their efforts to help children aged 7 to 18 make good decisions, feel safe and protected, and have successful lives. The ultimate goal is to promote youth mental health and discourage youth drug use.