Educate & Connect - Parent Peer Groups

The goal is simple… 3 to 5 parents in conversation can change everything.

Connection, communication, finding common ground and if there is the opportunity for like-mindedness. The easiest step - who does your kid hang out with? Start a conversation with those parents.

Discussion Topic #1 -
Parenting Today Overview

Discussion Topic #3 - The Effect on the Brain

The teenage brain can be easily damaged by marijuana. We now know the adolescent brain is developing well into the mid-20s - generally considered age 26. This phase of neural growth is now understood to be a unique stage of human development. We see significant differences between the adult brain and developing brains of 12-17 year olds and 18-25 year olds.

Not surprising, a significant amount of physiological impacts from marijuana - are brain related. We know significantly more than even 10 years ago about how the brain functions relative to marijuana.

Discussion Topic #5 - Parent directory

Would your community benefit from a directory of like-minded parents?

• Combat “mom, nobody’s parents care about this stuff like you do” and “no one has these rules.”

• Know where your neighbors and parenting peers stand on alcohol, marijuana and other drugs

• Be able to pre-check homes your child visits

Be the influence parent directory is a powerful tool- take the BTI pledge & start a directory in your community today Be the influence or "BTI" is a parenting program which seeks to delay adolescent substance use and reduce rates of binge drinking, alcohol, marijuana, vaping, tobacco, and other drug use in our communities

Starting the conversation

Nothing formal required, conversations like these can start in the carpool pick up line, or on the sidelines of the soccer game.

But, if you want to be more intentional, invite a few parent friends (2-5) over for a conversation about drugs and alcohol and what the group of you want for your kids through middle and high school.

Introductions are good if you don’t know each other well. Sometimes simply with the intention to discuss drugs & alcohol, the conversation will take off on it’s own. If not, use the discussion topics offered here. Watch the video. Print discussion guides for your time together as well as other flyers/materials for diving deeper or to explore once apart.

After the first meeting/discussion:

• Agree to meet again to explore more of the Parent Movement 2.0 website and materials.

• Or decide what portions you will explore on your own then gather back to compare and discuss.

• Or maybe you’ve got it - agree to stay in touch as the kids grow - call/contact each other if you hear something a little off or as they are making social plans together.

Discussion Topic #2 -
Explore the Pledge

Dive deeper into the science and wisdom behind the “I’m in” Parent Movement 2.0 Pledge. “I’m in” is a 21st century parent movement to prevent the underage use of marijuana, alcohol, nicotine and other drugs. Starting with “I want a ‘substance-free’ childhood for my kids and their friends,” the “I’m in”
Parent Movement 2.0 pledge describes how to increase the chances of achieving this and why it’s important to try.

Discussion Topic #4 - Forms & Potencies

Potency Levels Have Increased Significantly & Now There Are 4 Major Forms of Marijuana/THC

• f you do not use pot today, you don’t understand much about it. Marijuana possibly smoked in your youth (as recent as the 1990s) contained on average 3% THC (the cannabinoid in pot that makes a user high).

  Today:

• Plant-form marijuana - is generally not available with less than 18% THC and most of it contains THC levels in the mid-20s.

• Liquid and solid concentrates - forms did not exist 20 years ago.

  • Liquids are typically “vaped” and can vary in potency - 18% - 25% - 50% - 85% THC is seen.

  • Solids are “dabbed” and are nearly 100% pure THC.

• Edibles - the “pot brownie” has given way to an unending array of edible products (food and drink) with varying potencies - all strong. You will find gummy bears with 18mg of THC, candy bars with 420mg of THC, cookies with 1000mg of THC and everything in between.

It’s time for parents to wake up!

Note: Liquid and solid concentrates are added to foods/drinks to create edibles. Non-food products infused with THC or claimed to contain marijuana, have typically been created using these concentrates as well, i.e. tinctures, tampons, lotions, patches, etc…