Eps 378: Talking to Brenda Zane About How to Be with Teen Substance Use

My guest today is Brenda Zane, and we are digging deep into teen substance abuse.  Brenda shares about her son’s drug misuse & what got her started in this work. We talk about teens who are exploring risky behavior and teens who are using drugs regularly/daily. Brenda shares tips for having uncomfortable (and ongoing) conversations about drug use with your adolescent and how to come from a place of curiosity (not judgment). We talk about why the confrontational, punitive approach does not work & to consider drug use as a solution for a problem you don’t know about. Brenda and I also dig into how to share information about drugs with your kids & how to stay calm when you’re freaked out. Brenda finishes up teaching me about fentanyl & when overdoses don’t look like what you’d expect.   Takeaways from the show Novelty seeking as part of teenage brain development Substance use & responding as a parent  Alcohol & marijuana use  Covid, anxiety, isolation, & devices affecting drug use  Experimenting vs. problematic use  Uncomfortable conversations & coming from a place of curiosity  Drug use as a solution for a problem you don’t know about  Confrontational, punitive approach does not work  Information as harm reduction  Information about fentanyl & overdoses For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices