Limit access,
prevention starts with you!

What can I do?

Keep substances locked up.

• Store alcohol, marijuana, vapes, and prescription drugs in a securely locked cabinet, room, safe, or box.
• Keep the key somewhere hidden or inaccessible.
• Avoid use when children may be present.

What is the law?

Parents have a legal responsibility to stop anyone under the age of 21 to possess alcohol on  their property. Many adults don't know that you can be criminally and civilly responsible for any crime or injury that happens when alcohol is consumed by anyone under the age of 21. Under the CT Social Host law, parents can be held liable for episodes of underage drinking that occur in their house. A social host is someone of legal drinking age who may either provide alcohol to a minor or at least be aware of a minor’s possession of alcohol.

Connecticut’s “social host” law also expands to include cannabis, which means that parents or other adults may commit a crime if they allow minors to use or possess cannabis on their property. Furthermore, adults 21 and over must keep marijuana (limit of up to 5 oz.) in a locked container if storing it in the home, or in the trunk or locked glovebox of a vehicle. For adults growing marijuana, plants must be grown indoors and must not be visible from the street. People who choose to grow their own plants must do so in their primary residence and where individuals under 21 can not access the plants.

Did you know?

Prevention starts when you start talking—and listening.

What can I do?

• Discuss proper storage of substances with kids and adults
• Emphasize "Take medications only prescribed to you"
• Discourage misuse of pain medication
• Encourage proper and safe disposal of medications
• Talk about the risks of substance abuse, especially as an athlete - slows down thinking and reaction time, also decreases performance.

What can I do?

• Do not eat anything in unmarked packaging
• Say no to peer pressure and level up your refusal skills (examples below)
  "I don't want to let my family down"
  "Sports are too important for me to do that"
  "I have my whole life ahead of me"
  "I've got stuff do, can't be on that"
  "I dont want to risk my health"
  "I don't want to get addicted to anything"
  "I don't want to end up like the addicts I've seen"
  "Addiction runs in my family, I have to stay away"
  "Overdoses are common and I'm not trying to be next"
  "I don't want to look messed up"
  "I don't know what is in it"
  "I can get a random drug test at any time"
• Make adults aware of unsafely stored medications
• Learn how to safely dispose and store medications
• Find a trusted adult if:
  - You know someone is taking substances out of the home
  - You are being pressured to take substances
  - Someone wants you to take substances for them