Parental Monitoring: A Protective Factor Against Adolescent Substance Use.

Parental Monitoring describes the extent to which a parent supervises the activities of their adolescent and the level of concern and awareness they demonstrate to their adolescent regarding those activities.
And yes, research shows that adolescents whose parents practice effective monitoring strategies are, not only, less likely to use substances, they are less likely to choose risky behaviors in general.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has compiled a list of suggestions for parents to use to monitor their adolescent and help protect them from risky behaviors and experiences:

• Talk with your teen about your rules and expectations and explain the consequences for breaking the rules.
• Talk and listen to your teen often about how they feel and what they are thinking.
• Know who your teen’s friends are.
• Talk with your teen about the plans they have with friends, what they are doing after school, and where they will be going.
• Set expectations for when your teen will come home and expect a call if they are going to be late.
• Ask whether an adult will be present when your teen is visiting a friend’s home.
• Get to know your teen’s boyfriend or girlfriend.
• Get to know the parents of your teen’s friends.
• Talk with your relatives, your neighbors, your teen’s teachers, and other adults who know your teen. Ask them to share what they observe about your teen’s behaviors, moods, or friends.
• Watch how your teen spends money.
• Keep track of how your teen spends time online and talk about using the Internet safely.
• Pay attention to your teen’s mood and behavior at home and discuss any concerns you might have.
• If your teen does break a rule, enforce the consequences fairly and consistently.
• Make sure your teen knows how to contact you at all times