Young people have a lot of enthusiasm. That enthusiasm can be harnessed to develop resilience against alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. The same rap and alternative rock music that promotes negative behavior and substance abuse can be turned around to promote positive values. Youthful energy can be channeled in positive ways to fight back.

What can you do as a parent or concerned adult? Here are some suggestions.

1. Don’t try too hard to be young again. You won’t be believable. Speak to teenagers as an understanding parent—not as one of the gang.

2. Don’t attack everything in youth culture. Find something that you like. For example, if a song has a positive anti-drug message but uses profanity, say good things about the message, without endorsing the cursing.

3. Turnabout is fair play. Be willing to listen to criticisms of your music and favorite movies if you are telling young people what you think of theirs. Discussing differences of opinion helps to bridge generational differences. Remember how your parents felt about your Little Richard records.

4. Recognize that imagery means a lot to young people—even if the images are hard to take. For young people, a ring in the nose or a small tattoo is often middle-of-the-road, so don’t jump to conclusions based on looks alone.

5. Don’t oversell your point. Youth audiences tend to be skeptical, and if you push too hard, you’ll push them away.
   

6. Ask others for help. Young people are often more willing to listen to advice from their peers or from a trusted adult like a favorite aunt or the barber on the corner who knows all the latest haircuts.

7. Tread carefully with humor. What is funny to people of one generation often falls flat with those who are much younger or much older.

8. Be careful of hurt feelings. Young people can be very sensitive, even when they put forth an exterior that is rock hard. It’s only a cover, remember?

9. Correct the wrong stuff immediately. If you don’t set young people straight on the lies, myths, and half-truths about alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs in youth popular culture, they’ll believe what they hear on the street and they won’t know the truth.

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