October is Substance Use Prevention Month, a time to talk about how families and communities can help young people make healthy choices.
The good news is that most teens do not use alcohol, nicotine, or illegal drugs. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 76% of youth ages 12 to 17 have never used an illegal drug, including marijuana.
Still, substance use can have a serious effect on a young person’s health, relationships, education, and future. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 15% of high school students have used certain illegal or injection drugs, while 14% have misused prescription opioids. Substance use is also connected to mental health concerns, school challenges, violence, and other risky behaviors.
Prevention starts before a crisis. It begins when teens have trusted adults, a sense of belonging, healthy ways to manage stress, and goals they feel excited about.
Substance Use Is Often Part of a Bigger Picture
Teen substance use does not happen in isolation. A young person may be trying to cope with anxiety, depression, trauma, family conflict, peer pressure, or problems at school.
Changes in behavior do not always mean a teen is using substances. However, parents and caregivers may want to pay closer attention if they notice:
- Sudden changes in mood, energy, or personality
- Falling grades or frequent school absences
- Withdrawal from family or longtime friends
- A new group of friends who encourage risky choices
- Secretive behavior
- Unexplained health changes or fatigue
- Missing money or valuables
- New legal or disciplinary problems
A single sign may not mean there is a serious problem. Several changes happening together may be a reason to start a calm conversation or seek additional support.
How Families Can Help Prevent Teen Substance Use
Parents and caregivers do not need to have every answer. Their presence and involvement can still make a meaningful difference.
The CDC identifies family engagement, family support, parental monitoring, and a strong connection to school as factors that can help protect young people from high-risk substance use.
Families can strengthen these protections by:
- Talking about alcohol and drugs before a problem begins
- Listening without immediately judging or punishing
- Knowing where teens are, who they are with, and what they are doing
- Helping teens find healthy outlets for stress
- Staying involved with their school and activities
- Setting clear and consistent expectations
- Seeking support early when something feels wrong
These conversations do not need to happen all at once. Short, honest talks over time can help teens feel safer coming to an adult when they have a question or need help. SAMHSA’s Talk. They Hear You. campaign offers tools to help families begin these conversations.
New Visions Helps Teens See a Different Future
The Up Center’s New Visions program provides free substance use treatment for adolescents under 18 in Hampton Roads.
New Visions meets young people in their homes, schools, or other safe places in the community. Services may include individual and family counseling, substance use education, relapse prevention, goal setting, and coordination with schools and other agencies. A Family Support Partner is also available to help caregivers understand the recovery process and find needed resources.
Most importantly, New Visions looks beyond a teen’s substance use. The program helps each young person strengthen relationships, make healthier decisions, and begin working toward personal goals.
One Teen’s Path From Conflict to a Career
When Marcus joined The Up Center’s New Visions program, he was navigating family conflict and legal challenges that made it difficult to find stability at home. Despite these obstacles, he committed himself to the program from his first day.
Through counseling and consistent support, Marcus began rebuilding his relationship with his mother and was able to return home. He also made significant progress in school.
Initially, he expected to graduate during the summer. But his hard work and strong grades allowed him to graduate with his class in June, becoming the first person in his family to achieve this milestone.
And he was just getting started.
With a high school diploma in hand, Marcus enrolled in trade school to pursue a career as an HVAC technician. He also maintained steady employment, earned his learner’s permit, and began saving for his first car.
Another New Visions participant, Maya, discovered a path forward through her love of art. With support from her clinician, she developed a strong portfolio and earned acceptance into an arts-focused high school. Art became a healthy way to express her feelings, manage stress, and work toward goals that mattered to her.
For both young people, New Visions provided a space where their strengths could grow alongside the support they needed.
Their stories remind us that prevention and recovery are about more than overcoming challenges. They are about building relationships, discovering opportunities, and creating a future filled with possibility.
Names changed to protect privacy.
It Is Never Too Early to Ask for Help
Early support can help a young person stay connected to family, school, and healthy opportunities. Families do not have to wait until substance use leads to a crisis.
Parents, schools, juvenile services, community partners, and teens themselves can make a referral to New Visions. Services are free for eligible adolescents under 18 in Hampton Roads.
To learn more, visit The Up Center’s New Visions page, call 757-965-8623, or email outpatientcounseling@theupcenter.org.
A conversation today can help a young person begin building a healthier future.
