How To Answer Teen Questions About Drugs and AlcoholHow To Answer Teen Questions About Drugs and Alcohol
Recovery Recharged with Ellen Stewart Pushy Broad from the Bronx
Here are common questions teenagers ask about drugs and alcohol, along with thoughtful, honest, and age-appropriate answers — especially for parents who may have experimented themselves in early adulthood. Straight Talk with the Pushy Broad from the...
25:50•22 Oct 2025
Straight Answers for Teen Questions on Drugs and Alcohol
Episode Overview
- Respond to teen questions with honest, age-appropriate information, especially about your own past substance use.
- Explain that alcohol and drugs are short-term escapes that harm brain development, judgement and long-term wellbeing.
- Clarify that weed and vaping both carry serious risks, and that “safer” does not mean safe.
- Offer teens a no-judgement, no-punishment way to leave unsafe situations, including calling or texting you at any time.
- Teach teens to call emergency services, stay with the person and turn them on their side if someone passes out or overdoses.
“My rules come from care, not control.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? In this candid instalment of Recovery Recharged, Ellen Stewart, known as the Pushy Broad from the Bronx, offers straight-talking guidance for parents and carers who are facing tough questions from teenagers about drugs, alcohol, vaping and other mood-altering substances. Instead of dodging the conversation, Ellen leans hard into honesty.
She urges adults to answer the classic question, "Did you ever try drugs or alcohol when you were younger?" with openness, explaining that teens "really respect honesty" and that "my rules come from care, not control." You’ll hear her suggest age-appropriate ways to admit past experimentation without glamorising it, and to use current science about brain development and addiction to frame those experiences.
The episode runs through the questions teens commonly ask: why people drink or use drugs, whether weed is safer than alcohol, what the big deal is about vaping, and if trying something "just once" really matters. Ellen keeps things practical, stressing short-term risks like impaired judgement and long-term concerns such as addiction and lung damage from vaping cartridges.
Parents looking for concrete language will appreciate her sample responses, including how to support a teen who’s already tried something, how to help them say no without "looking lame", and what to do if someone passes out or overdoses at a party: call emergency services, stay with the person, and turn them onto their side. Throughout, Ellen’s tone is firm but warm, emphasising safety, trust, and open communication.
She reminds adults to offer a no-judgement, no-punishment escape route if their teen feels unsafe and to frame boundaries as an expression of love. If you’re wondering how to talk about drugs and alcohol without scaring or shaming your teenager, this episode gives you clear, ready-to-use answers. How might these straight answers change the way you handle the next difficult question at home?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.