Teens & Family
If you're a parent who just found a vape, a lighter, or something worse in your kid’s room, this section is for you. It's a science-based parent's guide to teen substance use and screens — what actually helps, what backfires, and how to have the conversations that keep your kid talking to you. The evidence here is clear and often counterintuitive: connection outperforms punishment, and scare tactics don't work. I write this cluster as both a researcher and a parent of three.
Start here
My teenager is vaping — what do I actually do? — the parent playbook
Is social media harming my teenager's mental health? — the real debate, handled honestly
Why punishment backfires with teen substance use — the core parenting thesis
Every question in this section
My teenager is vaping — what should I actually do?
My teen is smoking weed: a science-based parent guide
How do I talk to my kids about drugs (so they actually listen)?
My child won't stop gaming — is it addiction?
Is social media harming my teen’s mental health?
Why punishment backfires with teen substance use
Warning signs of teen drug use (and what they actually mean)
Teen anxiety and self-medication: the pattern parents miss
Should I drug test my teenager?
How to rebuild trust with your teen after a substance crisis
Link up:The Behavior Change Atlas
Curated by Dr. Adi Jaffe, PhD (UCLA), author of The Abstinence Myth and Unhooked.