Resources
We’re Here to Help
The links below provide helpful parenting tools to communicate with your teen about drugs and alcohol, as well as other helpful and informative resources.
Should you or your family need assistance or want counseling, your employer may offer an Employer Assistance Program (EAP) that provides mental health and substance use benefits. Contact your Human Resources department to learn more.
Raising Healthy Teens Parent Resource Guide – Facts, tips, and conversation starters to talk with your teen about drugs and alcohol.
Get the Conversation Guide from DrugFree.org – since conversations are one of the most powerful tools parents can use to help their kids
Family Agreement Form: Avoiding Drugs and Alcohol – A contract with your teen
Take the 15-question Quiz from Parent Further.com to examine how you address alcohol and tobacco use in your home
Kids in the House – A resource for anything to do with parenting for every age
Parent tips – from the American Academy of Pediatricians for keeping teens drug and alcohol free
Cyber Safety Cop – provides internet safety education
Fact Sheet (English): Prescription drugs and the teen brain
Fact Sheet (Español): Medicamentos con receta y el cerebro adolescente
Tip Sheet (English): How do I talk with my teen about prescription drugs?
Tip Sheet (Español): ¿Como le hablo a mi hijo/a adolescente sobre medicamentos con receta?
Information Sheet: Prescription safety
Partnership at Drug Free Kids – for information and resources on teen drug use and addiction, to help parents prevent and intervene in their children’s drug use and find treatment for a teen who needs it. Get personalized support for your family at 855-378-4373 – toll free hotline
Drug Free World – understanding the brain science behind teenage behavior can help parents better prepare their kids to avoid drugs and alcohol
Parent and educator guide about substance use from Drugabuse.gov
Learn some of warning signs from DrugFree.org and prepare to take action if you suspect your teen may need help
Instructions to Safely Dispose of Prescription Medications – link to download a flyer
Fact Sheet (English): Alcohol and the teen brain
Fact Sheet (Español): Marihuana y el cerebro adolescente
Tip Sheet (English): How do I talk with my teen about alcohol?
Tip Sheet (Español): ¿Como le hablo a mi hijo/a adolescente sobre el alcohol?
Power of Parents MADD’s program empowers parents to have ongoing, intentional conversations about underage drinking.
What You Can Do to address underage drinking with your child
Fact Sheet (English): Marijuana and the teen brain
Fact Sheet (Español): Marihuana y el cerebro adolescente
Tip Sheet (English): How do I talk with my teen about marijuana?
Tip Sheet (Español): ¿Como le hablo a mi hijo/a adolescente sobre el marihuana?
Where do you start? Between legalization, increased normalization in pop culture and new ways of using, it’s even more important to discuss marijuana with your kids. Start here or Get the Talk with Them parent guide
Fact Sheet (English): E-cigs and vapes and the teen brain
Fact Sheet (Español): El cigarrillos electronicos y vaporizadoresy el cerebro adolescente
Tip Sheet (English): How do I talk with my teen about e-cigs and vapes?
Tools to Help Them Quit
Teen Vaping – What Parents Needs to Know
Parent Talking Guide – for tips on talking to your teen about e-cigs and vaping
Get the facts on how tobacco affects your teen’s health
There’s local help available for substance use and mental health services for those lacking the finances to pay for counseling:
California Youth Services – In Laguna Hills, call (949) 303-9016 En Español: (949) 303-9018 for prevention, intervention, assessment, and counseling that assist and support adolescents with substance use
CalOptima.org. – to find a provider who accepts MediCal
For services for children and families from bilingual staff, visit:
CHEC Family Resource Center – In San Juan Capistrano, call 949-489-7742
SOC Family Resource Center – In Lake Forest, call 949-364-0500
Mission Hospital Outpatient Program – Aspire (After-School Program Intervention and Resiliency Education®) – In Mission Viejo, call 949-364-4246 for is an eight-week Intensive Outpatient Mental Health Program at Mission Hospital for adolescents aged 13 to 17. Most insurance accepted.
Wellness and Prevention Center – In San Clemente, call 949-680-0516 for mental health and substance use prevention services to students and families attending school in San Clemente.
Western Youth Services – In Laguna Hills, call (949) 855-1556, for mental health services from bilingual staff for children and families.
Local Low Cost Medical Providers
Camino Health Clinic – In Lake Forest, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano call 949-240-2272 for access to a wide variety of healthcare services from a bi-lingual staff, regardless of ability to pay.
Laguna Beach Community Clinic – Call 949-494-0762 to receive medical care regardless of insurance or the ability to pay
For support with alcohol and substance use issues, visit:
Al-Anon/Alateen Meetings – providing support and resources for family members
Orange County Alcoholics Anonymous – providing support for those in recovery. There are a variety of 12 step anonymous groups held in South Orange County such as Marijuana Anonymous, Pills Anonymous, and Heroin Anonymous.
For support or to learn more about mental health issues, visit:
NAMI – National Alliance of Mental Illness – to learn more about mental health issues or to find a NAMI support group