About this episode

The episode provides guidance for parents on how to address their teen's substance use with empathy and effective communication.

Today I’ll explain exactly what to do when you discover your teen is drinking, vaping, or using drugs. You’ll learn how to have a calm, connected conversation with your teen, how to understand why your teen is using substances, how to approach them with empathy instead of confrontation, and practical strategies to keep them safe while maintaining trust. I also review the critical mistakes we parents make in this situation, and how to set boundaries without pushing them away. This step-b...

People in this episode

Host: Ann Coleman, J.D.

Topics covered

• teen substance use
• parenting strategies
• communication
• empathy
• trust
• boundaries

Keywords

• teen drinking
• vaping
• drugs
• parenting
• communication strategies
• trust
• boundaries

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• #247: Getting Your Teen To Stop Or Decrease Their Substance Use · March 31, 2026 · 24 min
• #245 – Why Teens Use Substances And How To Help Prevent It · January 22, 2026 · 15 min
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