Even though it’s never clear if teens listen, the truth is, they are, which is why it’s important to talk about the effects of underage drinking. Parents can help prevent underage drinking.
Viewing entries in
Underage Drinking
Talk. They hear you is a national media campaign launched by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) aimed toward giving parents and caregivers support in starting the conversation with their children about the dangers of alcohol. SAMHSA provides resources such as the Talk. They Hear You (TTHY) role-playing app, action plans, fact sheets, and more, all of which helps parents and caregivers confidently and assertively talk to children about underage drinking.
When to Talk to Kids about Alcohol
According to SAMHSA, 9-15 are crucial ages in starting the discussion about drinking. At around age nine is usually when it occurs to children that alcohol may not be just for adults. By 15, those curious kids are already drinking. Studies support that young people who start drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to struggle with alcohol problems as adults versus those who don’t begin drinking until they’re 21 or older.
Prevalence and Risk of Underage Drinking
According to a national survey, in 2013, 8.7 million children between ages 12 to 20 reported consuming alcohol within the past month of the survey. Roughly 5.4 million of those youth were binge drinkers and 3.7 million were heavy drinkers. The earlier children start drinking, the more likely it is that they will become binge drinkers; binge drinking means consuming 4-5 alcoholic beverages in a two-hour period.
Hazards of Underage Drinking
When young people binge drink, they do lasting damage to their brains’ white and grey matter. This negatively influences spatial reasoning, attention, decision-making, impulse control, and other important cognitive functions. Brain damaging side effects can be life long. Additional dangers related to underage drinking include:
• Getting bad grades and other academic problems
• A greater likelihood of trying or abusing other drugs
• An increased chance of engaging in risky sexual activity that is unintended, unwanted, or unprotected
• Higher chance of suffering injury or death as a result of accidents
The risks increase the earlier drinking starts, which is why it is important to start talking to children early about underage drinking. Parents and caregivers are the most important and respected lines of defense in preventing underage drinking.
Resources to Help Parents Take Action
Many parents want to talk to their kids about drinking; however, they aren’t sure where to start the conversation, how to approach the topic in a way that will reach children, or what information is appropriate to share with children.
Tips for Talk to Kids about Underage Drinking
Set goals for talking to children about underage drinking. Five recommended goals are:
• Show you don’t approve of underage drinking; over 80% of children ages 10-18 report their parents are the main influence in whether or not they drink.
• Show your child that you care about their happiness and well-being. You’re on their side; let them know that your stance on drinking is because you want them to be happy and safe.
• Show your child that you know what you’re talking about when it comes to underage drinking. Establish yourself as a knowledgeable authority on the subject of alcohol by arming yourself with defensible facts and information. Your child will hear about alcohol from peer influencers as well; make sure they see you as one who they can turn to as a trustworthy source of information.
• Show you’re paying attention to your child because children most often try to drink when and if they think no one is watching.
• Give you children skills and tactics for avoiding the pressures of underage drinking. Peer pressure can compel kids who never want to take the first sip to drink, and it’s a slippery slope from there. Help your child build and practice skills.
Apps for Adults and Children
To help adults know what to say and for children to learn more about alcohol’s harmful effects, SAMHSA has created two apps. One is the Talk. They Hear You (TTHY) app, which is an interactive mobile application that uses avatars to help adults learn what to do and what not to do when it comes to talking to children about underage drinking.
The other is the Alcohol’s Effects on the Brain (AlcoholFX) app. This free app is science-based Reach Out Now mobile app for tablets that educates students ages 10-12 on how alcohol harms their developing brains.
Before your children download the AlcoholFX app, talk to them about the information it contains; doing so will help your children recognize you as an authority figure. Whatever you do, don’t wait to start the conversation with your children about how alcohol can harm them.
Engage with other proactive parents by using the #WeTalked hashtag to share the steps and story you’re taking to prevent underage drinking.
Underage drinking can have lasting effects, which is why it’s important for parents and caregivers to be able to help children resist peer pressure and to never drink in the first place. The Walton County Prevention Coalition (WCPC) is dedicated to supporting parents and children in talking openly and in making good choices when it comes to avoiding underage drinking. Visit the WCPC website for additional resources.
The WCPC is the Walton County Prevention Coalition, an organization dedicated to giving members of the Walton County community support and resources necessary for helping children make good decisions when it comes to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. The WCPC’s mission is prevention through communication and information.
About the WCPC
Established in 2003, the Walton County Prevention Coalition’s mission has been to ensure the health and safety of the community’s youth. The WCPC’s motto is “Working together as one to improve a community for all.”
The WCPC is comprised of concerned Walton County citizens who work with parents, local leaders, and youth to provide prevention services to youth and families and improve and to strengthen the community. Specifically, currently, coalition partners are:
• 15 youth members
• 8 parent members
• 6 school representative members
• 6 government agency members
• 5 other agencies reducing substances members
• 2 business community members
• 6 youth-serving agency members
• 3 civic / volunteer members
• 8 law enforcement members
• 2 media representative members
• 4 healthcare professional members
• 4 religious community members
More specific details about team members and sector representatives are on the WCPC About Us webpage. Team members’ collective professional expertise and experience comes from areas including counseling, education, law enforcement, public service, and more.
The Mission of the WCPC
The WCPC’s mission is “to reduce substance abuse for youth and families by developing an anti-drug coalition, which will be a cross-section collaboration of community entities. The coalition is tasked to strengthen efforts among public and private agencies so as to address environmental factors by identifying and maximizing resources and public awareness to reduce substance abuse among youth and families.”
Thus, the WCPC focuses the majority of its outreach on educating parents, adults, and teachers on how to speak to youth and on the importance and value of communicating with youth on the dangers of:
• Underage drinking
• Underage drug use
• Underage smoking
Information, support, and resources pertain to the short and long-term effects of such behaviors as well as the life-long damages engaging in these behaviors is proven to result in. The coalition also educates parents and families on how influential they are in the lives of youth and children and how they can use that influence to reduce and to prevent substance abuse among young people.
WCPC Strategies & Outreach
In the WCPC’s six-month review conducted between February and July 2016, the coalition reportedly:
• Provided services to 2,258 adults
• Provided services to 1,789 youth
Additionally, the Walton County Prevention Coalition:
• Provided information through:
o 4 community events
o 4 speaking engagements
o 159 Facebook posts reaching 36,252 people
• Enhanced skills through:
o 2 youth educational sessions
o 3 community educational sessions
o 3 business educational sessions
• Provided support through:
o 1 alcohol and drug free events for youth
o 4 recreational programs
o 32 community involvement activities
• Enhanced access / reduced barriers with 10 compliance checks
• Changed physical design through:
o 90 environmental scans
o 15 business sight surveys
• Modified / changed policies by passing 10 workplace policies
The coalition seeks community support in the form of volunteers, donations, and taking the abstinence pledge to stay away from smoking, drugs, and alcohol.
The Walton County Prevention Coalition is dedicated to its mission, message, and outreach. The coalition aims to strengthen the decisions made by members of the Walton community “one youth at a time.” To learn more about the WCPC or how you can help the organization grow in size and strength, visit the WCPC website and become a force for positive change in Walton County.
With so many other drugs and pressures swarming around our youth, parents often make the mistake of neglecting the topic of underage drinking when talking to their kids – and boy is it a topic that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Kids are now known to start experimenting with alcohol before even reaching their teenage years, so it is important to be proactive in talking to your kids about the dangers of underage drinking and the long-term effects that alcohol can have on our youth.
Start Early
When it comes to talking to your kids about underage drinking, it is important to beat the peer pressure to the punch.
» The pressures of experimenting with alcohol and other drugs is happening at a much younger age nowadays. Approximately 10% of kids admit to using alcohol by the age of 12, and that number doubles by the age of 13.Kids these days, right?
» Though teenagers don’t always act like it, they do look to their parents and other adults for guidance, and though it may not seem like it at times, when you talk, they listen.
» Start talking to your kids about the dangers of underage drinking at young age so that they will be prepared for the inevitable pressures that they will encounter.
Saying Nothing Can Be Saying A Lot
Conversations with your teenager about topics such as underage drinking can surely be challenging, but that is no excuse to put it off. Saying nothing to your child about underage drinking can prove to be far more dangerous than saying the wrong thing.
» Some parents mistakenly believe that their child isn’t susceptible to giving in to the pressures of underage drinking – wrong!
» Parents often think that they know their child, they know who their child is hanging out with, or they think that their child tells them everything, therefore they know that their child isn’t experimenting with alcohol, so why bring it up? No one’s child is above being subjected to the peer pressures of underage drinking – prepare your child for the worst, even if their behavior is the best.
» By saying nothing, you can be saying “drinking isn’t as big of a deal as other drugs that I’ve warned you about.” This is a dangerous message.
Use the Organic Approach
Speaking of how difficult these conversations with our kids can be – what’s the best way to bring it up? When possible, it can be best to bring these topics up in a casual environment such as during dinner or on a road trip.
» When you let the conversation happen in an organic way, the relaxed environment will allow your child to feel more comfortable opening up.
» For example, you could bring up something that happened in the news involving underage drinking, and then say, “That’s scary. Are there any kids at your school getting involved with alcohol already?”
Avoid the Scare Tactic
It can be difficult to keep a good balance between creating an open and casual environment for your child to open up, setting clear boundaries and expectations for them, and showing them who is boss. The one thing that you don’t want to do is try and scare your child into avoiding alcohol.
» This tactic can cause your child to rebel against you as well as scare them away from coming to you for help in dangerous situations involving alcohol.
» Teenagers make mistakes and they can get themselves into some dangerous situations – it is important for your child to know that they can come to you for help and talk to you about what they are experiencing. Don’t scare them away.
» Set limitations and expectations for your child in regards to underage drinking, but let them know you are there to support them when bad situations arise.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
If you are going to drink openly in front of your kids, do it responsibly. Your children will learn more from your own actions than from what you say to them. Be a good role model and don’t let them learn bad drinking habits in their own home.
The mission of the Walton County Prevention Coalition is to help to prevent substance abuse in our youth by developing an anti-drug coalition. Underage drinking is just one of the many pressures facing our youth and it isn’t one to be taken lightly. Start talking to your kids today about the dangers of underage drinking and the negative effects that alcohol abuse can have on their future.
It’s the moment that all parents dread when their children reach their adolescent years – the moment that they start to wonder, “Is my child using drugs or alcohol?” Maybe you are noticing signs of a sudden change of attitude or a decline in your child’s grades at school – whatever the reason, substance abuse is a common cause of worry among parents of adolescents. It is important to know the warning signs and to create an open dialogue with your children when you notice strange behavior.
Warning Signs of Teenage Substance Abuse
1. Sudden Change in Behavior or Attitude
I know what you are thinking – They are teenagers. Of course they have sudden changes in attitude. Fair enough, but this is one of those warning signs that can be brushed off by parents for that very reason. Pay close attention to your child’s behavior and talk to them when you notice these changes. Maybe it’s just a typical teenage mood swing, but there could easily be a larger issue at hand.
2. Decline in School Performance
Did your child go from being an honor roll student to barely skating by in their classes? This is a sign that your teenager is struggling with something – maybe it is substance abuse, or maybe it is another issue such as depression. Pay attention and always let your child know that you are there for support.
· Another thing to pay attention to is your child’s attendance in school. Are there school absences that you were unaware of? This is a definite sign of troubled behavior.
3. Withdrawal
If your child becomes withdrawn from interaction with you while at home and starts to react in a negative manner to your attempts at interaction, this could be a warning sign of substance abuse, depression, or a dangerous combination of both.
· When teenagers become involved with alcohol or drugs, it can cause them to withdraw from their parents out of fear that they will know what they are up to.
· Withdrawal can also be a result of substance abuse induced depression or the ‘I don’t care’ mindset that the use of drugs and alcohol in teenagers can cause.
4. New Friends and/or Decreased Interaction with Usual Friends
Of course, there is nothing wrong with your teenager making new friends and it is totally normal for some friendships to fade out. However, if you notice that your teenager’s usual friends aren’t coming around anymore and you’ve yet to meet any of your child’s new friends, you may want to dig a little bit deeper into seeing who your child is spending their time with. Your child’s circle of friends is a huge influence to their adolescent years.
5. Severe Weight Loss or Weight Gain
There are certain drugs that can cause rapid weight loss and certain drugs that can cause weight gain due to the effects that these drugs have on your appetite. Any dramatic fluctuation in your teenager’s weight should not be taken lightly. However, all drugs effect people differently so just because your teenager isn’t experiencing drastic fluctuations in their weight, doesn’t mean they aren’t using.
6. Missing Items around the House
No parent ever wants to suspect their child of stealing, but if you are noticing any of the above warning signs and things are starting to come up missing around the house, your child could be in serious trouble. Items that may come up missing could include –
· Money from your purse or wallet
· Prescription medications
· Expensive items such as jewelry
7. Strange Behavior When They Come Home at Night
When your teenager comes in from a night out with their friends, do you notice any of these behaviors?
· Hat pulled down to cover their eyes; lack of eye contact
· Excessive use of chewing gum or cologne/perfume
· Avoiding interaction/going straight to their room and shutting the door
These could all be warning signs that your teenager may be abusing drugs or alcohol. Talk to your kids on a regular basis about the dangers of substance abuse and keep them educated about all of the harmful effects.
The Walton County Prevention Coalition is dedicated to educating parents and adolescents about the importance of preventing substance abuse in our youth. Knowing the warning signs and paying close attention to the behavior of teenagers is one of the most important factors in preventing the use of drugs and alcohol in teens. What are you doing to educate your children?