Letters to Parents

Short, honest letters for the moments parents don't plan for, from the team at Lotus Behavioral Health.

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Each letter takes about two minutes and ends with one thing to do next. If you just found something, begin with Letter 1.

Go straight to what you need right now, or keep reading in order.

What to say, what to ask and what to expect back.

Letter 3 · 2 min readHow to ask when you know they may lie.
Start with facts, ask one question at a time and get information you can use, even from a teen in full defense mode.
Letter 6 · 2 min readYou found a vape. Do not run it over.
Photograph it, secure it and write down your questions before you talk. What to say first, and what to skip.
Letter 7 · 2 min read“It isn’t mine.” And four answers coming next.
Five explanations teens give when you find a vape, and a calm response to each one.

Vapes, THC and pills that are not what they seem.

Letter 8 · 2 min readWhat exactly is inside that vape?
Nicotine, THC or something unknown: what you can and cannot tell from the device, and which questions matter more.
Letter 9 · 2 min readWhen the vape is not really the whole story.
When vaping is part of a bigger change: the patterns to watch over months, not just the day you found it.
Letter 10 · 2 min readYour teenager probably isn’t buying fentanyl. That’s kind of the problem.
Counterfeit pills look like the real thing. The one rule to give your teen about any pill a friend offers.

Listening for the drive, the dishes or the walk.

Letter 5 · 3 min readPodcasts Every Parent Should Hear
Five podcasts with expert advice and honest stories for parents of teens, including teens in recovery.

An assessment is a way to get more information from people who know what to ask. Call us to talk it through.