Extension program helps parents recognize signs of youth substance misuse

Over the past few weeks, your teenager has become more withdrawn, spending extra time in their room, sleeping more, and offering vague answers when you ask what's wrong. One afternoon, you notice they have locked their door.

Behavior changes like these are among the potential signs of substance misuse that parents learn to recognize through Amherst County Virginia Cooperative Extension's Right Before Your Eyes program, which educates parents about the warning signs of youth substance use while equipping them with the communication and boundary-setting skills needed to support their teens.

Thanks to funding provided by the Amherst County Opioid Abatement Task Force, the Right Before Your Eyes program now has a permanent home: a 24-foot air-conditioned trailer featuring a walk-through simulation of a teenager's bedroom. The program is part of a range of health and well-being programming offered by Virginia Cooperative Extension, which brings the resources of Virginia's land-grant universities to the people of the commonwealth.

“Parents visiting the Right Before Your Eyes trailer watch an introductory video, then walk through our simulated teen room, making notes on what they see and what might be suspicious,” said Karen Tanner, a Virginia Cooperative Extension family and consumer sciences agent. “Afterward, they watch a follow-up video that explains the purpose of each item and the warning signs they may have missed.”

While parents learn to recognize warning signs inside the trailer, teens remain outside where they can participate in hands-on activities that demonstrate the dangers of substance misuse. Participants wear goggles that simulate opioid impairment while attempting everyday tasks, such as solving puzzles or pedaling a go-kart through an obstacle course, illustrating how substance use can affect coordination and reaction time.

Tanner has offered a version of this program since 2018, assembling temporary teen bedrooms inside high schools or community centers to help parents identify the many ways substances may be concealed and identify other warning signs. With a new mobile trailer, Tanner and Extension 4-H agent Debbie Lester can reach even more parents and teens to share the signs and dangers of substance misuse.

“The trailer allows us to bring the program to many more events within Amherst County, like the county fair or other outdoor gatherings,” said Tanner. “We worked closely with Amherst County on this project, and we are thankful for their continued partnership and support.”

For more information on the Right Before Your Eyes program, contact the Amherst County Virginia Cooperative Extension office.