It’s graduation season. Here are some strategies and resources you can use as parents and guardians of graduating teens.
Resources every teen should have
- Suicide Hotline 9-8-8
- Crisis Line: Text “VT” to 741741
- VT Helplink: Call 802-565-LINK (5465), visit VTHelplink.org
- 24/7 Sexual Violence Hotline: Lamoille County: 802-888-5256; Hardwick Area: 802-472-6463
Thank you for not providing alcohol or cannabis to minors
Serving alcohol or cannabis to minors is against Vermont law and can have serious legal consequences. Adults that provide alcohol or cannabis to minors or allow minors to use on their premises may face a $2,000 fine per minor, serve up to 5 years in prison per minor, and may lose their homeowners or renters insurance.
If you are hosting an event, safely secure any alcohol, cannabis and other adult use substances and prescription medications that may be in your home.
Know your graduates’ plans and talk to them about staying safe
While your teen is close to adulthood, it’s still important to know their plans for celebrating graduation celebration and make sure they are fun and safe.
- Share and discuss strategies to avoid substance use and stay safe
- Make sure your teen has a way to reach you if they are concerned and want to come home early
- Get support for talking with your teen about substances at parentupvt.org
Tips for teens:
- Discuss your weekend plans with friends beforehand. If there’s an activity you’re not comfortable participating in, don’t feel pressured to do so
- Have a plan and a backup plan to get home safely
- Come up with a code phrase with your parent/caregiver to signal you want to be picked up right away
- Never leave a drink unattended or take a new drink from a stranger
- Keep your phone charged – you never know when you may need to use it
- Stick with your friends – don’t wander off alone and don’t let friends wander off along
- Share your location with your parents/caregiver
- Never drive under the influence or get in the car with someone that you know has been drinking or using weed (even if they say they are fine to drive)
- Set up a ride to and from parties
- Don’t text and drive, keep your eyes on the road
- Wear a seatbelt
College Parents Matter – a resource for parents of young adults
Conversations change as our teens become young adults but our love and care does not. CollegeParentsMatter.org is a resource to support you as you support your emerging adult in new ways. Even if your young person is not going to college they are experiencing many new things and learning how to adult.
CollegeParentsMatter.org can help you navigate with tools and scripts for improving communication and dealing with excessive drinking and/or cannabis use that can harm their health, safety, and academic success.