Drugs and Young People: An Honest Guide for Parents

Why Honesty Works Better Than Scare Tactics

Many approaches to drug education have historically relied on exaggerating risks or oversimplifying the picture in ways that, when teenagers encounter the reality, destroy credibility for all the information they were given. A teenager who is told that cannabis will immediately ruin their life and then sees friends use it occasionally without obvious immediate consequences is much harder to reach with accurate information about the real, significant risks.

Honest, accurate information, delivered without panic, builds credibility and keeps the lines of communication open. This does not mean communicating that drug use is acceptable or safe. It means providing real information about what different substances actually do, what the genuine risks are, and why those risks are particularly significant for developing brains, in ways that teenagers can verify and that stand up to scrutiny.

Understanding the Most Common Substances

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug among young people in the UK. Modern cannabis products are often significantly stronger than those used by previous generations, and the strength of cannabis is directly related to the severity of its effects, including its risks. Cannabis use in adolescence is associated with increased rates of anxiety and depression, memory and concentration difficulties, and in those with a genetic predisposition, psychosis. The risk of psychosis is significantly higher with high-strength cannabis (skunk, wax, and similar products) and with regular use. Regular use also affects motivation and academic performance in ways that compound over time.

MDMA (ecstasy) is used in social and nightlife contexts and causes the brain to release large amounts of serotonin, creating feelings of euphoria and connection. Risks include overheating (particularly when dancing in hot environments), dehydration (and its opposite, drinking too much water, which can cause dangerously low sodium levels), and effects on the heart. The quality and content of street MDMA is highly variable: what is sold as ecstasy may contain completely different substances.

Cocaine is a stimulant with significant cardiovascular effects, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, and a high potential for psychological addiction. It can cause cardiac events even in young, healthy people. It is commonly adulterated with other substances, and cocaine hydrochloride mixed with levamisole (a veterinary drug found in much UK cocaine) causes immune system effects with long-term use.

Ketamine has become increasingly common among young people. At low doses it causes dissociation and distortion of perception. At higher doses it can cause complete disconnection from the environment (the K-hole), during which the person is completely incapacitated and vulnerable. Chronic use causes severe and irreversible bladder damage requiring surgery.

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas, nos) was among the most commonly used recreational substances by young people until its reclassification as a Class C drug in 2023. It causes brief euphoria and affects balance and coordination. Risks include vitamin B12 depletion with regular use, nerve damage, and asphyxiation if used in an enclosed space or in ways that prevent adequate oxygen intake.

Recognising Drug Use

The signs of drug use overlap with normal adolescent behaviour change, which makes them difficult to use as reliable indicators in isolation. However, patterns worth noting include: sudden changes in friend group, particularly association with significantly older individuals; unexplained changes in mood, energy, or behaviour; loss of interest in activities previously valued; declining school performance; unusual sleeping patterns; changes in appetite; and finding drug paraphernalia.

Some specific signs are more substance-specific: red, glassy eyes and cannabis smell for cannabis; unusually talkative, energetic, and then subsequently very low for MDMA or cocaine; extreme dissociation or inability to respond normally for ketamine.

Having the Conversation

Start early, before your teenager is likely to be encountering these substances, rather than waiting until you suspect use. Frame the conversation as information and concern, not as an investigation or an interrogation.

Ask open questions about what they know, what they have heard from friends, and what their own thoughts are. This is more informative than lecturing, and it tells you where your teenager actually is on this issue, which is essential context for the conversation. A teenager who has already tried cannabis needs a different conversation than one who has never encountered it.

Be clear about your own position and values while remaining calm and not overreacting. Overreaction, including immediate punishment for disclosure, teaches teenagers not to tell you things. The relationship in which a teenager feels safe being honest with you is more protective than any single conversation you can have.

Focus particularly on the developing brain argument: the specific and real risks to a brain that is still developing until the mid-twenties are the most honest and compelling argument for why drug use carries particular risks for young people.

When to Seek Professional Help

If your teenager's drug use is regular, is associated with significant changes in functioning, mood, or relationships, or if they express a desire to stop but cannot, professional support is appropriate. Your GP is the starting point. We Are With You (wearewithyou.org.uk) provides support for young people and families affected by drug use. Talk to Frank (0300 123 6600) provides confidential advice for both young people and concerned parents.

Drug use that begins in adolescence and continues into young adulthood is among the most well-established risk factors for long-term mental health problems and social difficulties. Early intervention is significantly more effective than waiting until problems are entrenched.