Eps 378: Talking to Brenda Zane About How to Be with Teen Substance Use

My guest today is Brenda Zane, and we are digging deep into teen substance abuse. 

Brenda shares about her son’s drug misuse & what got her started in this work. We talk about teens who are exploring risky behavior and teens who are using drugs regularly/daily. Brenda shares tips for having uncomfortable (and ongoing) conversations about drug use with your adolescent and how to come from a place of curiosity (not judgment). We talk about why the confrontational, punitive approach does not work & to consider drug use as a solution for a problem you don’t know about. Brenda and I also dig into how to share information about drugs with your kids & how to stay calm when you’re freaked out. Brenda finishes up teaching me about fentanyl & when overdoses don’t look like what you’d expect.  

Takeaways from the show

Novelty seeking as part of teenage brain development

Substance use & responding as a parent 

Alcohol & marijuana use 

Covid, anxiety, isolation, & devices affecting drug use 

Experimenting vs. problematic use 

Uncomfortable conversations & coming from a place of curiosity 

Drug use as a solution for a problem you don’t know about 

Confrontational, punitive approach does not work 

Information as harm reduction 

Information about fentanyl & overdoses

For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Brenda Zane, and we are digging deep into teen substance abuse. 

Brenda shares about her son’s drug misuse & what got her started in this work. We talk about teens who are exploring risky behavior and teens who are using drugs regularly/daily. Brenda shares tips for having uncomfortable (and ongoing) conversations about drug use with your adolescent and how to come from a place of curiosity (not judgment). We talk about why the confrontational, punitive approach does not work & to consider drug use as a solution for a problem you don’t know about. Brenda and I also dig into how to share information about drugs with your kids & how to stay calm when you’re freaked out. Brenda finishes up teaching me about fentanyl & when overdoses don’t look like what you’d expect.  

Takeaways from the show

Novelty seeking as part of teenage brain development
Substance use & responding as a parent 
Alcohol & marijuana use 
Covid, anxiety, isolation, & devices affecting drug use 
Experimenting vs. problematic use 
Uncomfortable conversations & coming from a place of curiosity 
Drug use as a solution for a problem you don’t know about 
Confrontational, punitive approach does not work 
Information as harm reduction 
Information about fentanyl & overdoses

For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices