Parents

The Edge's mission is to address issues of substance use among young people through outreach, prevention, education, and parent support. The Edge enhances the capacity of parents, young people and communities to promote an environment that encourages young people to make informed choices.

The first point of prevention is in the home. With this in mind, The Edge offers parent-focused, up-to-date information to increase awareness of alcohol and other drug use. The Edge helps parents prepare for the challenges their children face every day.

The Edge believes a factor in prevention of substance abuse among teens is by giving parents ways to talk to their children about drugs and to identify problems before they become serious. These resources help strengthen family bonds, improve parenting skills and reinforce family interactions from the early years through adolescence. The Edge often receives questions like "When do I start talking to my child about drugs?" and discuss sensitive subjects such as cultural conflicts and peer pressure. We do not provide answers to a problem but support the parent to find their own practical solutions.

For parents who have concerns about a son or daughter's use of drugs, The Edge offers strategies for communicating and problem-solving specific to their needs. The Edge has a confidential telephone support service provides confidential information and an opportunity for parents to receive family support sessions, alongside family counselling and referrals to support parents in their efforts to work through the process of understanding the problems and identifying the solutions.

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