NEED HELP NOW? Call 911 for emergencies. Call or text 988 for mental health or substance use crises. Local 24/7 support: 262-657-7188.

262-658-8166

6103 39th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53142

262-658-8166

6103 39th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53142

NEED HELP NOW? Call 911 for emergencies. Call or text 988 for mental health or substance use crises. Local 24/7 support: 262-657-7188.

NEED HELP NOW? Call 911 for emergencies. Call or text 988 for mental health or substance use crises. Local 24/7 support: 262-657-7188.

Youth and Teens2026-07-27T18:08:41-05:00
Resources

Youth and Teens

The products keep changing. The conversations need to keep up. This section helps parents, caregivers, schools, and youth-serving organizations do exactly that — with calm, practical, honest guidance instead of warnings that expire with every new product. Whether your kid is seven or seventeen, whether you’re ahead of the question or already behind it, start here.

Guidance by age and topic

Talking to Youth About Substance Use

For parents of younger children — how to start early, age-appropriate conversations long before the teen years, so trust is already built when bigger questions arrive.

Talking to Teens About Substance Use

For parents of adolescents — how many small, honest conversations beat one big talk, and how to stay in the room when the topic gets real.

Vaping & Nicotine

The youth substance issue most families actually face — what parents and schools should know about vaping, nicotine, quitting support, and prevention.

Start where you actually are

“Nothing’s wrong — I just want to be ready.”

The best position there is. Start with the conversation page for your kid’s age, and build the habit before you need it.

“I’m noticing changes.”

Shifts in mood, sleep, friends, money, school, or interest in things they loved — worth paying attention to, without panic. Changes have many causes; conversations find out which one.

“I found something.”

A device, a product, a package. Take a breath first — calm and curious gets further than confiscation and lecture. The conversation pages cover exactly this moment.

“There’s already a citation or school consequence.”

For underage alcohol or drug citations, UDAAP offers an educational alternative to a violation’s effects on a young person’s record — court appearance first, then registration.

Prevention programming that respects students

Hope Council delivers evidence-based prevention education in schools, community centers, and youth settings across Kenosha County — honest, current, product-agnostic, and built on the premise that respecting young people’s intelligence works better than scaring them. Youth vaping prevention runs in partnership with local schools and public health partners.

Common Questions

What age should the conversations start?2026-07-09T20:09:21-05:00

Earlier than feels necessary — attitudes form well before high school, starting with things as simple as medication safety at home. The Talking to Youth page covers the early years; Talking to Teens picks up from there.

I think my teen is already using. Where do I start?2026-07-09T20:09:35-05:00

With a calm conversation, not a search of their room. Start with Talking to Teens for the how, the Vaping & Nicotine or substance pages for the what — and know that Hope Council’s family support and assessment services are there if it’s bigger than a conversation: 262-658-8166.

Is this section for teens themselves?2026-07-09T20:09:47-05:00

Teens are welcome everywhere on this site — and the substance information pages are written to respect their intelligence. For free, confidential quit support built for young people, see Vaping & Nicotine.

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