Electronic Cigarette Tip Sheet

Effects of Marijuana

A video presented by Gateway Foundation

Lisle Police Department

Has an RxBox located just inside the lobby, located at 5040 Lincoln Ave

Green Initiatives- Rx Box Program

Offers DuPage County residents a list of locations and hours

Dispose My Meds

Naperville Prescription Drug Drop-Off Locations

Tips for Safe Parties and A Vape-Free Summer

NEW! The Healthy Summer issue includes the new Guidelines for Parties and the Law 2019, which has state laws and local ordinances parents need to know to prevent underage use of prohibited substances, and the regulations on curfew, and rules for young drivers. Also, tips for a vape-free summer shares facts on e-cigarettes, vaping prevention, and resources for helping teens and adults quit.

Real Life Parenting: Exploring the Myths About The Reality of Raising Teens

Sometimes parents feel pressure to fit in and compare themselves with other parents on several levels. This can include economic status, a child’s academic achievements, activities or even rules about parties and curfew. The list can be long. Ready to replace the “perfect” parent myth with real life parenting? Read this issue of The Parent Post, high school edition, to brush up on ideas if facing peer pressure from other parents or if you are experiencing backlash from your teen regarding parental expectations.

Empowering Your Teen Through Your Actions: The Role Model Update

Curious about family history of substance abuse disorders and risk to your teen? The Parent Post, high school edition, covers genetic resiliency, and how modeling behaviors regarding alcohol—and more—support and inspire teens to continue making healthy decisions.

Electronic Cigarette/ Vaping Update

Using electronic cigarettes is a risk most teens are not taking. The Power of Choice, and state and federal public health agencies are bringing resources to parents of teens about e-cigarette use. Find out the the health impact, important FDA news, and tips to recognize vaping.

Parenting Wise Teens

The risk of using an addictive substance drops for teens whose parents talk with them about not using alcohol and other drugs. The 2018 Illinois Youth Survey found fewer local teens are drinking than ever. Find out 3 surprising reasons fewer teens are turning to alcohol.

Celebrating With a Healthy and Safe Approach

Connecting with Your Teen

When the Conversation is Difficult

Resources Available Right at Your Fingertips

Parental Resilience: Ways Parents Support Each Other and Themselves

The Importance of Substance Abuse Prevention in Adolescents

Setting Boundaries–Saying “no” can be a positive thing!

Family Strategies for a Safe Summer

I know or think my teen might be using–What can I do?

Helping Your Teen Become More Independent

Helping your Teen Deal with Changing Circumstances

Resolutions-Change as a Family

Positive Ways to Cope

How to Model Coping Strong

How to Help Your Teen to Cope Strong

How the Power of Choice Campaign Affects Your Student

The Vulnerable High School Student

Healthy Stress Management

Medical Marijuana

Reality Challenges Popular Beliefs

The Teen Brain and Addiction

The Importance of Substance Abuse Prevention in Adolescents

Helping Parents and Teens Connect

Celebrating with a Healthy and Safe Approach

The Power of Being a Positive Role Model

Showing How Much You Care by Saying “No”

DESK Intervention: Tools for Confronting Difficult Situations with Your Child

Qualities of a True Friend

Adolescents’ decisions are often influenced by their peers. Unhealthy friendships can leave them vulnerable to risk taking and dangerous situations. Teens say their parents are often their most reliable source. In this edition, learn tips to help teach youth to recognize the qualities of true friendship. These qualities can empower them to choose healthier friendships and strengthen the skills that will help them to stay alcohol free. Talking about friendships/relationships can make easier to also talk about not using alcohol.

The Power of Positive Peer Influence

Peer behavior, both positive and negative, has a powerful influence on adolescent decision-making. When adolescents associate with positive social peers, they are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors and make responsible decisions. Talking about friendships/ relationships in general makes it easier to also talk about not using alcohol and the impact that underage drinking could have. Learn tips to help you talk with your teen about being a positive peer influence and making the healthy decision to not use alcohol.

Healthy Family Strategies

Healthy adolescents make healthy choices. The first step to a healthy future is having a healthy NOW. Research shows that adolescents that have a healthy lifestyle are less impulsive, less anxious, get better grades, have greater self-control and are more likely to make the healthy choices that will lead to a drug and alcohol-free future.  Learn tips to get you talking about health in general, which in turn will make it easier to also talk about things like not using alcohol.

Strategies for Dealing with Stress

Our children have lots of stressors in their lives—school, grades, sports, friends, technology, lack of sleep. Unmanaged stress can be overwhelming and lead to anxiety-related illnesses. Taking the time to talk with and teach adolescents healthy ways to manage stress helps them to become emotionally healthy individuals. Emotionally healthy individuals are less likely to use alcohol as a coping tool. Talking about stress can make it easier to also talk about not using alcohol. Keep talking – they really are listening.  Find tips to get you talking about dealing with stress in a healthy way.

Freaky Friday! Switch Roles With Your Parent

Research shows that resilient individuals report the presence of caring adults in their lives. Helping adolescents recognize, understand and appreciate those caring adults will help to build those resiliency skills. At times, parents and their adolescent children face conflict because they each feel misunderstood or underappreciated by the other. Use this PowerTalk for Families, to help switch roles with your teen to gain a better perspective. This will make it easier to discuss the negative effects of alcohol, and what that means in terms of mental and physical health, safety and making healthy decisions.

Trusted Adults are Valuable

Developmental research shows that having one or more caring adults in a child’s life increases the likelihood that they will flourish and become productive adults themselves. In many cases, these caring adults are the child’s parents, but other relatives, neighbors, friends of parents, teachers, coaches, religious leaders, and others can play this role. Caring adults, like these, can provide another perspective and offer guidance and support. Having another adult in your world to not only support your child, but also you can help make it easier to discuss the negative impacts of alcohol with your teen.

Family Talent Night

Each of us is an important part of our community. We each have talents and strengths that make us unique. We each use those talents and strengths to make a difference in our family, our school and our community. An important part of building resilience in our children is helping them to recognize their own strengths and determine how they can use them to make a difference in their world. Remind your child that you are there for support and guidance – and that it’s important to you that she or he is healthy and happy and makes safe choices. This can help make it easier to talk about tough subjects like not using alcohol.

Monitor & Set Clear Expectations with Your Teen about Not Using Alcohol and Other Drugs

In this issue we are exploring the importance of monitoring and communicating clear expectations with our teens when it comes to talking about not using alcohol. While parent-child conversations about not drinking are essential, talking isn’t enough – we also need to take concrete action to help our children resist alcohol. Research strongly shows that active, supportive involvement by parents and guardians can help teens avoid underage drinking and prevent later alcohol misuse.

Monitor, Talk & Build Strong Bonds – Talk with Our Teens About the Risks of Underage Alcohol Use

Parents can have a major impact on the children’s decision to drink alcohol or not, especially during the preteen and early teen years. The best way to influence our children to avoid drinking is to have a strong, trusting relationship with them. Research shows that teens are much more likely to delay drinking when they feel they have a close, supportive tie with a parent or guardian.

Keep Talking, They’re Really Listening

Parents are the most influential protective factor in their Children’s lives. What parents say really DOES matter and your children really ARE listening. Especially when it comes to the vital topic of not using drugs and alcohol. While peer pressure is something to keep in mind, helping your child prepare themselves on how to handle situations with friends is best done together. Use our peer pressure zine activity to get you started.

Keep Talking and Monitoring – Know the Risk Factors that Could Influence Underage Alcohol Use

In this issue we further develop on the conversation about the importance of monitoring and talking with your teens about the consequences of underage alcohol use. It is important that parents are not only informing their youth, but also themselves about the risk factors that could lead their teens toward the unhealthy decision to use alcohol. We explore this as well as ways parents can continue to be the strongest influence on their teens’ decision to make the healthy choice to not use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs..

Keep Monitoring – Help Teens Choose to Not Use Alcohol

It is important to continue the conversation about the monitoring and communicating with your teens about the consequences of underage alcohol use. Kids are curious, they know alcohol exists and it is up to parents to ensure students understand how alcohol can negatively impact their development and goals in life. Monitoring looks like many things. While in some instances it means looking for when things are amiss, other times it is looking for opportunities to support your teen’s growth and development. It is just as important to support your child when things are going right, so that they are aware that you notice and respond, as it is when things are not going as smoothly.