The following is excerpted from an online article posted on MedicalXpress
Although most teens don’t use drugs or alcohol, some do: Adolescence is a time of exploration and risk-taking, and today’s substances—from high-potency cannabis to counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl—are far more dangerous than in previous decades. Despite these fears, a December 2025 University of Michigan study found that drug use among U.S. teens remained low for the fifth year in a row after a sharp decline in 2020/2021.
When parents worry about substance use, the first instinct is often to tighten the reins: take away a teen’s phone, search their room and threaten punishment. But research and experience show that what teens need most is connection, not control.
Instead of jumping right to discipline, start a conversation. It’s best to have these talks early and often, long before you’re worried that your teen has come home after using drugs or alcohol. Conversations are more productive when they happen outside the heat of the moment, when everyone is calm and open.
Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-pediatrician-advice-teen-drugs-alcohol.html