Community Coalition Alliance

Conversation alone isn’t the whole picture.

Being actively involved in your teen’s life and setting clear, consistent expectations strengthens the impact of what you say. These combined parenting strategies can significantly reduce the likelihood of substance use.

Learn more: https://ccafl.org/tfyf/

These conversations aren’t a one-time event.

As substances and influences evolve, teens need ongoing dialogue, guidance, and reassurance that expectations and support remain steady.

Consistency over time helps reinforce trust and understanding as they grow.

Learn more: https://ccafl.org/tfyf/

Support is available, and you don't have to navigate difficult moments alone.

During PTSD Awareness Month, we're sharing trusted resources that can help connect individuals and families to support when it's needed most. Whether you're looking for immediate assistance, information about trauma and recovery, or tools to support your mental well-being, help is available.

📌 Save this resource for future reference.
📌 Share it with someone who may need it.
📌 Explore additional resources at ccafl.crediblemind.com

Preparation makes conversations more effective.

Being informed, especially about risks like fentanyl, helps you feel more confident when questions come up. It’s okay not to have every answer; exploring them together can be powerful.

Look for natural moments like car rides or dinner to keep conversations relaxed and ongoing.

Learn more: https://ccafl.org/tfyf/

Prevention is built through everyday actions.

Strong relationships, clear expectations, consistent involvement, and positive role modeling are proven ways to reduce the risk of teen substance use. Small, steady habits at home can make a lasting impact.

Learn more: https://ccafl.org/tfyf/

June is PTSD Awareness Month.

PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, and it affects people in different ways. While symptoms may look different from person to person, understanding PTSD helps reduce stigma and encourages support.

Awareness matters because many people living with PTSD may not always show visible signs of what they're experiencing.

This month, we're helping build understanding, compassion, and awareness around trauma and recovery.

💙 Healing is possible.
💙 Support is available.
💙 No one has to face it alone.

Silence can create assumptions.

When drugs and alcohol aren’t discussed, teens may underestimate the risks of trying them. That gap in understanding can lead to serious consequences.

Consistent, open conversations help shape how teens think about substance use long before they’re faced with a decision.

Learn more: https://ccafl.org/tfyf/

Parents have more influence than they often realize.

Even when it doesn’t feel like it, teens are highly impacted by what they hear at home. Research shows they are significantly less likely to use substances when clear, ongoing conversations happen with trusted adults.

Social media and peers may shape what teens see, but home shapes how they interpret it.

Learn more: https://ccafl.org/tfyf/

There’s no single reason teens may turn to substances.

Peer pressure, stress, mental health struggles, curiosity, trauma, boredom, and more can all play a role. While every situation is different, the risks of substance use during adolescence can escalate quickly.

These risks include impaired brain development, addiction, academic decline, legal trouble, and even injury or death.

Understanding the root causes helps strengthen prevention.

Learn more: https://ccafl.org/tfyf/

Adolescence is a critical stage of brain development.

Because the brain is still maturing, teens are more vulnerable to addiction and long-term effects from drugs and alcohol. Early substance use can also increase the risk of accidents, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders later in life.

The earlier the exposure, the greater the risk.

Learn more: https://ccafl.org/tfyf/