Kratom? Synthetics? How To Talk To Teens About Drugs Today
An excellent new video series is here to help
Hi Friends,
I hope you’re having a good week! One of the most rewarding projects I’ve been involved with over the last few years is helping create TheNewDrugTalk.org, a site that provides “free, evidence-based resources to help families understand today’s drug risks—and have the conversations that matter.”
Today, I’m sharing some brand new videos from The New Drug Talk that focus on some of the biggest emerging topics in teen substance use.
As a health teacher, I understand how much drugs have changed in recent years, and know that adults need all the help they can get in keeping up with those changes and understanding how to to effectively talk with teens about them. I hope these resources help!
Big love,
Christopher
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Is Kratom Safe For Your Teen?
Right now, a middle schooler—12, 13 or 14 years old—can walk into a convenience store in many states and buy a product that acts on the brain like an opioid, without anyone asking a single question. It sits on the same shelf as energy drinks and protein bars. It’s called kratom—and the most concentrated forms, like 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OH), are highly addictive, sold without warning labels and legal in most states.
In this New Drug Talk conversation experts explain what parents should know about the growing market of unregulated substances being sold to young people.
What you’ll learn:
Where kratom originated and how it’s being deceptively marketed for health and well being
What forms kratom is sold in: teas, gummies, shots
How concentrated kratom extracts like 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OH) affect the brain
Why adolescent brains are more vulnerable to addiction and substance dependence
The gas station products teens may already recognize, including Feel Free and other brands
Why “natural” and “legal” do not always mean safe
How to start calm, informed conversations with your teen about kratom
What Are Today's Synthetic Drugs?
Xylazine (the “zombie drug”). Nitazenes. Fentanyl. Fake prescription pills. Today’s drug supply is changing faster than most parents—and even many professionals—can keep up with. A new wave of synthetic substances are appearing in communities across the country and reshaping overdose risk for young people.
Many counterfeit pills are designed to look exactly like real prescription medications, including Adderall, Xanax and Percocet. In many cases, the pill a teen thinks they’re taking is not the substance they’re actually taking.
In this New Drug Talk conversation experts explain what’s happening in the current drug supply, why today’s risks are different from previous generations, and how parents can have informed, practical conversations with their teens.
What you’ll learn:
Why today’s drug supply is fundamentally different from the past
What’s causing more overdose deaths in our country that any drug previous to it
Why fentanyl has dramatically changed overdose risk for young people
What xylazine—known as the zombie drug or 'tranq'—does to the body
Why naloxone (Narcan) may not reverse all substances involved in an overdose
What nitazenes are and why experts are concerned about their potency
How counterfeit prescription pills are made to look identical to prescription medications teens are familiar with
How to start calm, direct conversations with your teen about fake prescription pills
Your Teen Needs Your To Talk About Drugs
The drug talk has changed. It’s not one big conversation—it’s dozens of small ones, built on trust, curiosity and the right techniques. In this video, experts walk parents through the conversations that actually work—moving beyond fear-based warnings to real, lasting connections with your teen that support their mental health and well-being.
What you’ll learn:
Why talking to your kids about drugs won’t put the idea in their head
How to talk to your teen about substances without pushing them away
What to say when you think your child is not doing well
How to model healthy behaviors, especially outlets to stress
Why your teen needs to hear your expectations out loud
Tools to help your kid safely exit a peer pressure situation
How everyday family habits build the resilience that keeps kids safe
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