Tools to Talk with Your Young Person about Anything (including substance use)
Last Updated: Friday April 17, 2026
Caregivers play a key role in helping young people navigate the risks that exist in today’s world. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has developed this video presentation to help parents and other caregivers communicate effectively with the young people they care about. The “Tools to Talk” video series is made up of eight short videos that offer skills to caregivers that they can use to communicate more effectively with their young person.
The “Tools to Talk” video series can be shared in many different ways. Some examples include:
- Caregivers can watch (or re-watch) the videos online, to understand and prepare to practice the concepts.
- Community facilitators can organize events where participants to watch the videos ahead of time and then gather to discuss the key ideas and how they can be used in “real life.”
- Organizers can present some or all of the videos and use the breaks between the clips to discuss the ideas.
A “Tools to Talk” worksheet can be downloaded or shared with participants at events. It contains key ideas from the presentation. This flyer can be used to promote Tools to Talk in your community.
Tools to Talk is intended to be the start of a process. DEA has many resources that families and communities can use to promote positive conversations.
Get Smart About Drugs at www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com contains news, podcasts, guides and more to help parents, educators and caregivers help the young people they care about.
Together for Families at www.dea.gov/togetherforfamilies contains resources from the DEA’s government and non-profit partners at the national, tribal, state and local level.
One Pill Can Kill, Your Voice Can Save a Life is DEA’s campaign to educate the American people about fentanyl and equip families and communities to take action. Resources for families are at www.dea.gov/onepill/parents-and-caregivers
Operation Prevention is DEA’s grade 3 – 12 curriculum that is free for educators across the nation. The accompanying parent toolkit is at www.operationprevention.com/#parent-toolkit
To learn more about the key ideas from the Tools to Talk presentation, visit our partners, Partnership to End Addiction and CMC: Foundation for Motivation and Change.
https://drugfree.org/skill-building/
