How to Keep Your Teens Drug and Alcohol Free Until Graduation

July 31, 2019

Do you have kids? Worried that even though they are good kids, and you raised them well, there is a risk they could fall prey to the dangers of binge drinking and drug use when teens?

As a parent of 3 teens (2 safely out of the woods 18&21 and 3rd 14), being on the other side, I am going to share with you what worked for us.

I have taught at multiple universities over the past 16 yrs, I can assure you from observation, it is a growing serious issue with dire consequences. Years ago I tripped upon a contract for teens someone posted online, which we edited & adopted with our first son (I wish I could remember who posted it, so I could thank them now). Click here to download an editable Word version.

Being a passionate neuroscience researcher, I know what happens to the teen brain during puberty – their cognitive brain is forming new connections, they can’t help making bad emotional decisions. With my work in human behavior, I also know that reward and punishment is a strong motivator.

So, we simply had our teens sign and commit to a contract. If they made it through high school without being “drunk” or doing drugs we would buy them a car for graduation. My boys will tell you, at weak moments having something at stake helped them make the right choice.

Additional Resources:

Share these links with your kids to educate them on what happens to their brain during puberty and why drugs and alcohol are very dangerous.

For younger teens: https://youtu.be/EpfnDijz2d8

Older/Adult: https://youtu.be/EpfnDijz2d8

I hope this helps!

Download the editable Word version of the contract you are welcome to adapt for your own use.

Get the Contract