What Parents Are Saying — Prevention Wisdom, Authenticity, and Empowerment "Talk. They Hear You." Campaign Team

This episode features man-on-the-street interviews at SAMHSA’s 2024 National Prevention Day. Hear from more than 30 people that spanned the range of parents, prevention experts, and SAMHSA leadership. They offer helpful ideas, insights, and advice on how parents can help their kids navigate away from alcohol and other substances. You’ll learn that so many agree – when you talk, they hear you. 


This podcast is brought to you by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The views expressed here are not necessarily those of SAMHSA or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For questions or comments about this podcast, please contact WhatParentsAreSaying@gmail.com.


This podcast is brought to you by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The views expressed here are not necessarily those of SAMHSA or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For questions or comments about this podcast, please contact WhatParentsAreSaying@gmail.com.

December is National Impaired Driving Awareness Month.  The holidays  are a joyful time for family and friends to celebrate, however they can pose challenges for some.  Then for those who have lost family through impaired driving they can be excruciating., In this episode, we talk about substance use in and around all of this and explore ways to traverse the holidays safely. 


Rhonda Campbell, a Senior Victim-Services Specialist with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), joins us to frame what “victim impact” means and the importance of parent voice when it comes to impaired driving and keeping families safe so all can remain joyful.  


This podcast is brought to you by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The views expressed here are not necessarily those of SAMHSA or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For questions or comments about this podcast, please contact WhatParentsAreSaying@gmail.com.

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Delaney Ruston and Ms.Lisa Tabb, creators of the Screenagers movie series, about the recent release of Screenagers: Under the Influence. In the film they focus on how alcohol, drugs, and vaping are being portrayed in the media, what parents should know, and provide ideas to take action. This is the perfect conversation as we all get ready to go back to school.
A filmmaker, author, and Stanford-trained physician, Dr. Ruston has created award-winning documentaries for social change over the past 25 years, with a focus on topics concerning mental health, fIn addition, she serves as a primary care physician for underserved teens and adults in Seattle, WA.


Ms. Lisa Tabb has been a storytelling entrepreneur for more than 30 years. In addition to a news media career in San Francisco,CA, Lisa has co-produced the three Screenager movies with Dr. Ruston and also co-directed the most recent Screenagers: Under the Influence film.
Together, they have sparked a movement around screen time, teen mental health, and now underage substance use with these movies. Over 9 million young kids and adults have viewed these films in community screenings in over 100 countries.


This podcast is brought to you by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The views expressed here are not necessarily those of SAMHSA or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For questions or comments about this podcast, please contact WhatParentsAreSaying@gmail.com.

We know raising kids isn’t easy, especially when it comes to navigating underage drinking and other drug use. We also know that effective communication can help us along this journey. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Emily Kline and learn that it’s not just what you say to your kids about alcohol and other drugs, but—more important—how you say it. She offers some easy ways to change the manner in which we communicate with our kids that can make all conversations more productive. We learn that communicating doesn’t just mean talking, it also means listening: “when you listen, they listen.” No matter the ages of your children, you’ll get something valuable out of Dr. Kline’s communication techniques and advice. To learn more about Dr. Kline, including her new book and free e-learning modules, visit: https://www.dremilykline.com/.
This podcast is brought to you by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The views expressed here are not necessarily those of SAMHSA or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For questions or comments about this podcast, please contact WhatParentsAreSaying@gmail.com.

Join us for a conversation with Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy and his wife, and co-founder of The Kennedy Forum, Amy Kennedy. They speak about their parenting experiences (5 children, ages 4-15), specifically parenting in recovery, as well as the work they do nationally to expand the dialogue around mental health and addiction. They also discuss the importance of brain development, children’s mental health, and how early substance use impacts this process. Their insights exemplify the focus of this podcast series —“prevention wisdom, authenticity, and empowerment.” Share this episode with every parent you know.


This podcast is brought to you by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The views expressed here are not necessarily those of SAMHSA or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For questions or comments about this podcast, please contact WhatParentsAreSaying@gmail.com.

In recognition of SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week (May 7th through 13th 2023) and the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign’s 10th anniversary, in this episode, we hear from seven Spotlight Partners – community organizations using the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign in truly dynamic ways. Our partners are the heartbeat of the campaign as they champion prevention efforts in their communities and beyond.

Clark County Partners in Prevention – Springfield, Ohio (02:00, 55:50)
Gallia Jackson Meigs Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board – Gallipolis, Ohio (10:20, 41:40, 58:40)
Central Florida Behavioral Health Network – Tampa, Florida (16:30, 59:50)
Fayette Prevention Coalition – Lookout, West Virginia (21:43)
Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board – Cleveland, Ohio  (28:09, 1:05:35)
Safe Yakima Valley – Yakima, Washington (31:35, 1:03:14)
Sacramento County Coalition for Youth – Sacramento, California (39:00, 42:50, 1:01:30)
This podcast is brought to you by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The views expressed here are not necessarily those of SAMHSA or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For questions or comments about this podcast, please contact WhatParentsAreSaying@gmail.com.