Ways to Prevent Underage Drinking: Establish School-Based Programs & Be Your Teenagers Biggest Fan

There are programs available to the schools that talk about drugs and alcohol. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, better known as D.A.R.E., has been instrumental in educating youth groups about the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse.

However, this program alone is not enough. Many times the school will sponsor a program in elementary school or talk about the dangers of alcohol use in health class but then teenagers never hear about it again. These programs need to be ongoing. They don't necessarily have to be "in your face", but usually by the time the child reaches their teen years the tools they learned in a D.A.R.E. program have long been forgotten.

If there is not a program for teenagers in your community, talk to your school or town administrators about establishing one.

By the time your teenager reaches high school they may be embarrassed to even admit that they have parents. Don't let it upset you. It's normal. But even though your child might be thinking this way, they really don't feel this way.

When your child insists that you know nothing, are uncool, or are the strictest parent in the world, just smile. They might think you are strict but you know that you're just doing your job as their parent. Tell them how much you love them and how you are their biggest fan. Let them know how proud you are of everything that they accomplish and of the wonderful person that they are becoming.

They may roll their eyes at you and be embarrassed, but on the inside they will appreciate knowing that they are loved and that you care.