Puberty, bullying and 'the birds and the bees'. There are all sorts of big talks that we have with the young people in our lives. At some point, you may find that alcohol, tobacco or other drugs is something you'd like to cover.

This 'Community Conversation' is designed to help you have that talk.

Research suggests that one of the most important factors in healthy child development is a strong, open relationship with a carer or parent.  

We hope that this information can assist you in having 'The Conversation'.

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In this Community Conversation we will:

• look at how to talk with young people about drugs
• look at what can make talking with young people easier or harder
• offer tips for talking about drugs
• share places where you can learn more

Did you know:

• 1 in 3 young Tasmanians say they’d turn to their parents for advice about drugs
• young Tasmanians highly value their family relationships

In 2021, Mission Australia asked young Tasmanians where they would go for help with important issues:

• 80.4% said they would ask for help from their friends
• 73% said they would turn to their family
• and 53.2% said they would ask their partner for help.

The survey also found that 52% of young people rated their family’s ability to get along as either 'excellent' or 'very good'.

It is clear from Mission Australia's findings that many young people feel very comfortable seeking help from their parents and guardians when dealing with important issues.  

We know you have probably heard it before, but it really does start at home.  Home is the first place that young people start to learn.  Even if you aren't sure what to say, the important thing is that you say something. If you’re concerned, let them know and tell them why.  

Show young people that you are willing to support them and talk with them about important issues. This will give them the chance to share what they are thinking or going through.

It can make a big difference to the young person you care for.

The best time to start is now.  No matter how young the child in your life is, they are already seeing drugs in the world. The things they see and hear can shape what they know about drugs. By talking with them, you can help shape their knowledge and influence how or if they use drugs in the future.

Think about how often a young person sees an adult drinking alcohol or smoking a cigarette. When they see this, they are learning something about how people use drugs. Talking about drugs is an important part of preparing them for the future. As they get older, they may be around drugs more often, or invited to use them.

Having the talk as early as possible helps to make sure that young people know how to keep themselves safe. You don’t have to start by talking about the hardest parts. You can start by talking about the medicines you have at home. If you take a painkiller to treat a headache, talk about why you are taking it.

For very young children, talking about medicine safety and nutrition can be the perfect building blocks for bigger talks about drugs later on.

Young people see things about drugs in all sorts of places. They see and hear things at school, in TV programs, in movies, through the internet and on social media.

When you discuss drugs with a young person, it is very important that you share correct facts and information. Using good evidence to support your conversation will help the young person to develop an understanding of drugs, and not just your opinions about them.

How you tackle this topic is important because:

• research shows that parents’ beliefs and actions have a strong effect on if, when, and how a young person drinks alcohol
• your rules around alcohol use can lower the chances of young people drinking in a harmful way
• the law in most parts of Australia supports your decision not to allow a young person to drink alcohol.

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Should you be worried when it comes to alcohol and other drugs?

Many carers worry about whether young people are using illegal drugs and what they should or can do about it. You may be surprised to learn that most young people don’t use alcohol or other drugs.

In the 2019 'National Drug Strategy Household Survey', findings showed that today’s young people are less likely to smoke, drink or use illegal drugs.

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We now know that young people trust the information provided by their carers. We also know that we can start small when talking about drugs, building to have more than one conversation. But how do we get ready to actually talk?

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You will feel more confident in starting the conversation if you:

• Get the facts about alcohol and drugs. Think about what you need to know and what you want the young person to learn. Who do you want involved? There is a lot of wrong information around, but if you focus on the facts your talk will go better.
• Be prepared. The young person is likely to ask whether you have used drugs. You don’t need to tell them about your own use of drugs (or if you had a good time). But, if you decide to share, think about how much detail you want to give. Will your story be helpful? How you will answer any questions about your use?
• Be clear. Think about what you feel is a proper and responsible use of legal drugs. Discuss the risks of mixing prescription medicines and alcohol. Set fair boundaries and explain any consequences to guide future behaviour.

Before you take any action, you can ask for support and advice. Consider speaking to a Drug and Alcohol service or helpline, reach out to another carer, a family member, or your GP.

Try not to take it personally if the young person doesn’t want to talk to you about what is going on. Some resistance is normal. It doesn’t mean that you should give up.

What does good communication with a young person look like?

Communication with a young person is helpful when:

• you are talking in a way that works for both of you
• where appropriate, you both feel able to talk openly about your feelings
• you both feel heard and understood
• you both feel comfortable talking about uncomfortable or difficult things when you need to.

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Importantly, good communication with young people helps to keep the lines of communication open. You may not cover every part of the topic, or address every problem with one big talk.

It’s okay to pause a conversation and pick it up again later. It's okay to have lots of smaller talks. Talk about what's happening in the news or with family and friends. You will find lots of moments where you can help the young person to learn and grow as you talk.

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Talking about drugs may be one way for you to connect. You can learn more about what is happening in the young person's life. And, by talking with you, they can work out what their choices are and make healthy decisions.

Keep in mind: When you do talk about it, they may find the conversation difficult.

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Sometimes a talk goes wrong. How does it happen, and how can you stop it?

This video has some great suggestions to help keep your communication on track.

Good communication takes work, practice and planning. Take the time to listen to the young people in your life; you may be surprised at where the conversation leads.

Young people want to share their life with the people that care about them. They don’t want to be judged or criticized. They want your support, guidance and to feel that they are heard.

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In this Conversation we have learned that:

• Young Tasmanians see their carers as a reliable source of information when dealing with important issues like drugs.
  
  
• It is never too soon to start talking about drugs. We can have as many conversations as we need.
  
  
• Our conversations can be made easier by making sure everyone feels comfortable, listened to, and safe.
  
  
• There is a lot of support available to us. There are plenty of places to find tips and advice to help you have these conversations in the best way possible.
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• You can have a positive impact on a young person by being available to them, and encouraging them to come back to you if they have anything more to say.

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