TalkSooner Makes Difficult Conversations Easier.
We are a resource for parents to access information about substance use prevention.
Our mission is to help parents inform youth about the dangers of substance use. Believe it or not, focus group data suggests that youth do indeed seek information and guidance from parents and other adults, so it is important that parents have these difficult conversations.
They may roll their eyes, but they will open their ears.
TalkSooner is the product of multiple county coalitions in Michigan, working together to send out a common message to parents of youth ages 10-18 about alcohol, tobacco, and other substances. We believe that accurate information is critical to help parents and youth make healthy choices around substance use. The goal of TalkSooner is to delay the onset of substance use through encouraging positive, honest conversations with youth that are centered on factual information.
We provide a variety of resources to make the conversation easier: drug facts, trends and information, signs to watch for if there are concerns about youth use, and tips for how to talk to youth about this complicated topic. TalkSooner does not endorse the use of scare tactics, and instead wants to help parents feel empowered to have conversations and set appropriate expectations with their children.
Parents can find our resources in multiple ways including: social media, our website, billboard campaigns, educational presentations from county substance use prevention coalitions and more.
You Can Do More Than Talk, You Can Take Action!
How can you find your local House of Representatives member? Search by zipcode.
How can you find your State Senator? Search by zipcode.
How can I get involved and make changes? Find your local substance abuse prevention coalition! Or you can join national efforts such as Parents Against Vaping. They are a grassroots community of passionate parents and concerned individuals committed to protecting children from the dangers of vaping and other flavored tobacco use. Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes
Community Partnership/Partners
TalkSooner.org is a credible source for parents to get support for teenage drug and alcohol challenges or just proactively talk to your child as an informed parent. I often refer our high school parents to this website for solid and trustworthy information.
