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Finding w**d in your kid's room is scary, and the instinct is to come in hot. But how you handle the first five minutes matters more than what you found. A blowup teaches them to hide it better. Curiosity keeps the door open, and that open door is one of the strongest protections you have.

And some perspective: most teens are not using. One discovery is a moment to respond to, not a verdict on your kid. Save this for when you need it.

Backup for the conversation:
Partnership to End Addiction free parent helpline and Ma*****na Talk Kit,
text CONNECT to 55753 or visit drugfree.org

Teen Lifeline for your teen, 520-327-8336, 3 to 9 PM daily

asking for help isn't weak. it might be the strongest text you send all month. you don't need perfect words. "not doing great, can we talk" is enough.

Resource: Teen Lifeline, call or text 520-327-8336. Or call or text 988.

the summer on your feed is the highlight reel. so you see the lake day, group pic, everyone looking like they're thriving. what you don't see is the boredom, random arguments, and long 'nothing' afternoons. don't compare your real summer against everyone's best 10 seconds and wonder why you feel behind. you're not behind. you're just seeing the edit. if the scroll keeps leaving you low, it's ok to put it down for a bit.

Teen Lifeline, call or text 520-327-8336 if you need someone to talk to.

May was Mental Health Awareness Month, but we don't need to leave behind the lessons moving into June. So what can you do?

• Get outside for ten minutes of daylight.
• Charge your phone in another room at night.
• Sleep before midnight when you can.
• Text one person you trust when you are not okay.

You can also contact 988 for free, 24/7, by call or text.

Sources: Mental Health America, mhanational.org; 988lifeline.org

The w**d from the 1990s averaged under 4 percent THC. What's on shelves now is often 16 percent or higher, and concentrates can hit 80 to 90 percent.

Your brain reacts to that very differently.

Higher potency means higher risk of dependence, anxiety, and in some cases psychosis, especially under 25.

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse, nida.nih.gov

South Tucson parents, your voice matters more than you think. Kids whose parents talk to them honestly about alcohol are less likely to drink.

The 2024 Arizona Youth Survey shows underage drinking is still happening across Pima County, even as numbers slowly trend down. Start the conversation before high school and keep having it.

They are listening even when they roll their eyes.🙄

Sources: SAMHSA Talk. They Hear You., samhsa.gov; 2024 Arizona Youth Survey, acjc.az.gov

Old prescriptions sitting in the bathroom cabinet are where a lot of misuse starts.

You can drop them off, no questions asked, at any of the six Pima County Sheriff substations with Dispose-A-Med bins, at most Walgreens and CVS locations, and at DEA Drug Take Back events every April and October. Clear out what you do not need.

Sources: Pima County Sheriff Dispose-A-Med, pimasheriff.org; DEA Take Back, deatakeback.com

Recreational ma*****na is legal in Arizona at 21. Safe at 16 is a different question.

Regular use during the teen years is linked to lower learning and memory performance, and a higher risk of dependence in adulthood. The same conversation you have about alcohol applies here. Same brain, same stakes.

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse, nida.nih.gov

Narcan reverses an opioid overdose, and it is now sold over the counter at most pharmacies. No prescription needed. In Arizona, you can also order it free by mail from Sonoran Prevention Works at spwaz.org or find free local pickup sites at naloxoneaz.com. Keep it where you keep the first aid kit. It only saves a life if it is in the house.

Sources: Arizona Department of Health Services, azhealth.gov/opioid; spwaz.org

Teen depression does not always look like crying.

Watch for sleeping way more or way less than usual, dropping friends or activities they used to love, anger that came out of nowhere, or talk about being a burden. Trust your gut over their "I'm fine."

Pima County's 24/7 crisis line is 520-622-6000.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, healthychildren.org