Our children today face pressures at school, online, among friends, and sometimes at home. They may experience anxiety, loneliness, stress, depression, trauma, or pressure to fit in. For some, substances can become a way to cope with emotions or situations they don’t yet know how to handle.

As parents, caregivers, educators, churches, and communities, we have an important role in prevention. Prevention isn’t simply about telling youth what not to do. It means helping them understand their worth, building safe relationships, teaching healthy coping skills, and making sure they know where to turn when life becomes difficult.

Understanding Substance Use And Mental Health

Youth substance use may include alcohol, nicotine and vaping products, cannabis, prescription medications used outside medical guidance, and other drugs. Early substance use can create serious challenges and may develop into more harmful patterns.

It’s important to respond without shame. A teen struggling with substance use is not a “bad kid.” They may be facing difficult circumstances or using substances to cope with something they don’t know how to express.

Mental health and substance use can also affect one another. Anxiety, depression, trauma, loneliness, and stress may increase the desire to escape difficult emotions, while substance use can contribute to changes in mood, relationships, school performance, and overall well-being.

Connection Is Prevention

One of the most powerful forms of prevention is connection. Teens need adults who know them—not just their accomplishments, but their hopes, fears, questions, and struggles.

Protective relationships and activities may include:

• Parents, caregivers, mentors, and trusted adults
• Positive friendships
• Church, school, sports, arts, or community activities
• Healthy coping skills and routines
• Consistent boundaries and expectations
• Access to mental health and substance-use resources
• A sense of belonging and purpose

Tight-knit communities can create spaces where youth feel welcomed, heard, and valued. Sometimes prevention is as simple as a parent having an honest conversation, a mentor checking in, or a youth leader making sure a student feels seen and valued.

Start The Conversation

Talking about substances doesn’t have to be a one-time lecture. Conversations can happen naturally and repeatedly. Even having conversations when this topic is addressed on a movie you may be watching together. Ask questions such as:

“What pressures are kids dealing with at school?”

“What do you do when you’re really stressed?”

“Is there anything you’re worried about that you haven’t known how to talk about?”

Listen before responding. A harsh or judgmental reaction can cause a teen to shut down. James 1:19 reminds us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak.” A calm, compassionate response can help youth feel safe enough to keep talking.

Our children need healthy alternatives for managing stress and difficult emotions. These may include prayer and time in God’s Word, talking with a trusted person, exercise, activities, time in nature, healthy routines, journaling, counseling, serving others, and spending time with close family and friends.

As a parent, you may notice when your teen starts to withdraw, have significant mood or behaviors changes, have declining school participation, changes in sleep or other routines, increased secrecy, or loss of interest in activities. These are signs a conversation needs to happen. It does not mean that your child is using substances or experiencing a mental health condition, but it does mean they need to be heard to with curiosity and compassion.

Leading With Grace And Truth

We can teach the next generation the risks of substance use while refusing to define them by their mistakes. We can establish boundaries while offering forgiveness and encourage responsibility while showing compassion.

Psalm 139:14 reminds us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Every adolescent deserves to hear that message, not only when they are succeeding, but especially when they are struggling.

Prevention is about more than saying “no.” It is about helping our youth say yes to healthy relationships, faith, hope, purpose, support, and a future worth protecting. Our children do not need adults who pretend struggles don’t exist. They need adults willing to walk beside them through those struggles, just as Jesus walks along side us in our dark valleys.

Remind your children (and yourself):

You are loved. You matter. You are not alone. You are worthy. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

If you or someone you know would benefit from support navigating the complexities of family life, contact us today.

Stephanie sees clients in person in Carroll, Iowa, and throughout the state via telehealth.

[email protected] | 712-276-9000 | lutheranfamilyservice.org/contact

Not located near Carroll or in Iowa? Visit our website to explore our other locations and learn whether telehealth or distance counseling may be an option for you: lutheranfamilyservice.org/mental-health-counseling.

Lutheran Family Service walks alongside individuals and families through difficult times, offering mental health counseling, marriage counseling, crisis pregnancy counseling, and adoption services.