Talk. They Hear You.

This campaign is produced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

All information on this page can be accessed at: www.samhsa.gov/talk-they-hear-you

Campaign Goals:

1. Increase parents’ awareness of the prevalence and risk of underage drinking and substance use
2. Equip parents with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to prevent underage drinking and substance use
3. Increase parents’ actions to prevent underage drinking and substance use

5 Tips to Talking with Kids about Alcohol:

1. Show your disapproval of underage drinking
2. Show you care about your child’s happiness and well-being
3. Show you’re a good source of information about alcohol
4. Show you’re paying attention and you’ll notice if your child drinks
5. Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding underage drinking

Keep it low-key. Don’t worry, you don’t have to get everything across in one talk.
Plan to have many short talks.

Small Conversations Can Make a Big Impact… Why?

1. Short, frequent discussions can have a real impact on your child’s decisions about alcohol
2. Talking often builds an open, trusting relationship with your child
3. Lot’s of talks are more effective than one “big talk”

Tips for Talks:

1. When you do talk about alcohol, make your views and rules clear
2. As the children you care for, the conversation changes
3. Remember that the conversation goes both ways
4. What you do is just as important as what you say