Where You Are

Substance Use: Talking alcohol, vaping & other drugs with your kids

S03E7 | May 11, 2022

It’s important to talk openly with your child about substance use from an early age, but as parents and caregivers we don’t always know where to start. Michelle and Bryn sit down with Cindy Andrew and Art Steinmann, both parents and professionals with 30+ years of experience working in the field of youth substance use within BC schools and communities, to discuss how to talk about substance use with your child, how to prevent problematic substance use, and how you can help your child develop the knowledge and skills they will need to make decisions about vaping, alcohol and other drugs as they grow.
You can read the full transcript for the episode here. 

*Note: This episode will not cover chronic and problematic substance use. That topic will be a future episode on Where You Are.

 

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Guest bios

Cindy Andrew

Senior Associate, Bunyaad Public Affairs

Cindy Andrew is a mother of two, a former teacher and long time health promoter. She is a Senior Associate on the team leading The ABCs of Youth Substance Use, a BC government project funded by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Education focused on supporting schools – and by extension, parents and caregivers, in addressing substance use with youth. A former program consultant with the Canadian Institute on Substance Use Research, Cindy also works with a Vancouver Island based school district in supporting their health promoting schools related efforts, which includes connecting with and supporting parents and caregivers.

Art Steinmann

Senior Associate, Bunyaad Public Affairs

Art Steinmann is a Senior Associate, Youth Substance Use Health Promotion, at Bunyaad Public Affairs Inc. Art brings over 40 years of experience in substance use policy, education, program development, advocacy and health promotion work including co-founding and co-developing SACY (Supporting and Connecting Youth program) for the Vancouver School Board. A parent as well, Art brings many years of lived experience to the conversation.

Recent Episodes

Podcast Episode

Subscribe

Supporting Your Child Who Has Experienced Trauma

Where You Are | Episode E10 | May 24, 2023

Our hosts Bryn and Char speak with Lynne Godfrey (parent and grandparent) and Dr. Linda Uyeda to explore trauma, understand its impact on mental health and wellbeing, and share strategies parents and caregivers can use to support their child who has experienced trauma.

Podcast Episode

Subscribe

Re-Release (ICYMI) - Eating Disorders: How Parents Can Play an Active Role in Recovery

Where You Are | Episode E9 | May 3, 2023

In this episode Michelle and Bryn are joined by Kelly, a parent of a youth diagnosed with an eating disorder, and Dr. Jennifer Coelho, Psychologist at BC Children’s Hospital’s Provincial Specialized Eating Disorder Program, to answer questions we often hear from families about supporting a youth with an eating disorder.

Podcast Episode

No Shortage of Questions: Helping Kids Cope with Big Life Changes

| Episode E8 | April 12, 2023

In this minisode, we bring questions from BC families to a leading BC Children's Hospital child psychiatrist and family therapist on how to support kids through big life events and changes such as starting a new school, moving, etc. Listen for strategies that you can share with your child to help them cope with changes that come with big life events.


See all podcast episodes
My Collections
Close

Save Clear

Enter your email to receive a link to your collections.

help | privacy

Look for these to create a collection of resources. You can add the resources you find most useful to collections and save them using the function in this tab.

learn more | privacy

Create a new collection

Create

or

Add to an existing collection

Close
Close

Need urgent help?

If you, your child, or someone you care about is having a mental health or substance use crisis:

  • Call 911 or go to your local hospital’s emergency room if you are in need of immediate help
  • Call 1-800- SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) anytime if you are concerned about someone who may be considering suicide

These are a few examples of situations when you should seek immediate help:

  • The child or youth is thinking about or trying to end their life
  • The child or youth is experiencing sensations that aren’t real and/or beliefs that can’t possibly be true
  • The child or youth is unable to care for themselves, and it’s putting them at risk of serious harm
  • The child or youth is experiencing an alcohol or drug overdose
  • The child or youth is taking a dangerous combination of substances (like medications and alcohol)

For non-urgent support options, explore our Ask Kelty Mental Health tool. You’ll find answers to common questions families have about accessing mental health supports and services in BC for their child or youth.