Prevention Consultants of Missouri

04/15/2026

Using “I care” messages and clear “I” statements helps strengthen trust and reduces the chances of underage drinking. These messages help teens feel understood — not judged — and make them more likely to talk openly, ask questions, and turn to you when facing pressure. Supportive communication helps protect their developing brain and empowers better decisions.

04/14/2026

🎮📱Tech Safety Tuesday 📱🎮

Social media allows us to connect with each other, but for kids and teens, this can be a serious risk factor to their safety.

Learn 5 tips for keeping our kids safe on social media, and see how other parents deal with the most common concerns:
🔗 https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/by-activity/social-media-advice-hub/

04/13/2026

SAMHSA emphasizes that the strongest protective factor against underage drinking is a caring, involved adult. When parents and caregivers actively engage in their teen’s life, youth are far less likely to experiment with alcohol or other substances.

Youth who feel supported are more confident, make healthier choices, and are more likely to delay first use while protecting their developing brain. Your engagement matters — more than you know.

04/11/2026

🤰🏻 Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Awareness 👶🏾

NAS is preventable, and getting help early is important. In efforts to look out for one another and support our neighbors in feeling comfortable to ask for help, we can choose to start with ourselves. Even the most well-intentioned of us may find our beliefs turn into hurtful behaviors.

Hear from individuals who are in recovery and healthcare professionals about the impact of stigma: https://youtu.be/AN3pI4_MQSQ?si=kHJsGgm20gjZZiIz

If you know someone who feels shame, guilt, or fear around substance use and pregnancy, support without judgment is available.

Find local help on our webpage: https://preventionconsultants.org/using-and-pregnant-or-considering-pregnancy-get-the-support-you-need-no-judgement-just-help/

The stigma around substance use often intensifies when pregnancy is involved. This video is aimed at exploring this stigma and educating healthcare professio...

04/10/2026

Underage drinking has real consequences — not just in the moment, but long-term. Alcohol use during adolescence increases the risk for injuries, poor decision-making, mental health challenges, and future alcohol problems, including addiction.

Talking early and often helps youth understand these risks and make safer choices. When adults talk honestly about consequences, youth listen — and delay first use.

04/08/2026

Underage drinking increases the likelihood of decisions that can lead to regret, harm, or long-term risk. Alcohol lowers inhibitions in young people, making them more likely to engage in risky behaviors, including unsafe situations, impaired driving, or choices that conflict with their values.

Helping youth delay first use protects their developing brain and reduces the chances of harmful outcomes.

04/07/2026

🎮📱Tech Safety Tuesday 📱🎮

Parents and caregivers can create a more age-appropriate experience on ChatGPT by enabling parental controls and restricting features. --> This is important because it is easily accessible and commonly used among youth to aid in school assignments, search for information, and sometimes for entertainment or social connection using its chat features that mimic natural-sounding conversation between the user and chatbot.

04/06/2026

Underage drinking affects far more than the moment — it can have serious mental and physical health consequences. SAMHSA reports that young people who drink are more likely to experience depression, anxiety disorders, and long-term mental health challenges.

Preventing underage drinking isn’t just about safety — it’s about protecting youth mental health and their long-term well-being.

04/03/2026

Impaired driving conversations can save lives. When parents talk early and often about alcohol, youth are less likely to ride with a driver who has been drinking or make unsafe choices themselves.

These conversations protect developing brains and help youth make safer decisions behind the wheel. Say it early. Say it often.

When you talk, they hear you.

04/01/2026

Missouri prevention experts emphasize giving teens safe ways to reach out when something doesn’t feel right — especially when alcohol or impaired driving is involved. Creating a simple code word or phrase gives youth a safe exit strategy if they’re ever in an uncomfortable or risky situation.

Empowering youth with a plan protects them from impaired driving risks and supports healthier choices.

03/31/2026

🎮📱Tech Safety Tuesday 📱🎮

Check out this webpage and 2.5-minute video about the layers of protection you can add to help keep your child safer online:
https://youtu.be/6mXO5YOEeyI?si=qaFceTOqIJ2dOb7z

You probably use at least one parental control, but did you know you can layer up your child's online safety?Every layer of parental controls you add to your...

03/30/2026

Don’t wait for the “right” moment — every moment is the right time to talk with your kids about impaired driving. Alcohol is a leading factor in fatal crashes involving young drivers, and teens are especially vulnerable because their brains are still developing, affecting judgment and reaction time.

Open conversations now protect their future behind the wheel — and far beyond it.