Substance Use

Substance use is an intimidating topic to bring up with your kids. We encourage parents to start the discussion with alcohol and cigarettes/vaping, since these are things that most kids have already seen through childhood. It is also important to talk about other drugs so that your kids understand what they are and what their consequences can be. We frequently discuss these topics during annual physicals, but please let us know if you have any specific concerns about your child.

Please save the Poison Control phone number, in case of intoxication or ingestion (this will work for any kind of substance, ranging from drain cleaner to cocaine): 1-800-222-1222. If possible, call the Poison Control number from a landline, because it is automatically routed to a Poison Control center in the calling phone’s area code.