When teenagers go to high school, they make lots of new friends. It's sometimes hard to keep up with all the new names of friends your teenager has made. That is if they mention their friends at all.
Get to know the teenagers your child is hanging around with. If your teenager mentions a new name to you, ask your teenager about them. At the end of a long week you may not want to have a house full of teenagers making noise, but when you do bring your teenager to someone else's house for a visit or sleepover, make sure you meet your child's friends and talk to their parents.
Your teenager might be constantly invited over a friend's house, but do you really know what's going on there? Ask your teenager if his friend's parents are going to be home. If your teenager's friend is constantly having other friends over as well, you want to know if this little party is being supervised by an adult. Only you can decide if you're comfortable with the situation. If you're not comfortable, tell your teenager why. Or suggest that your child invite a friend over your house where you can supervise what is going on.
If you do decide to allow your teenager to stay with a friend, call them to check on things. They may not like that you're checking in with them, but that's okay. You are not supposed to be your teenager's buddy. You are their parent.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Ways to Prevent Underage Drinking: Get Your Teenager Involved in Activities
When a teenager has too much idle time on their hands, they are more likely to get into trouble of all kinds. Studies show that when a teenager is excited about an activity they're less likely to give their parents trouble. Get your child involved in adult supervised activities either through the school or through a community youth program.
For some parents, too much activity is hard to manage. Unless there is a late bus that can bring your child home from school or another parent who can help carpool, it is sometimes hard to navigate the different times your child will need to be at an activity.
If you are unable to participate in dropping off your child and picking them up, talk to other parents who are available during those times. See if you can find a parent who could help you out during the week when you are at work. If so, you could offer to swap off travel time for when you're available on the weekends, freeing up the other parent.
This is not to say that every moment of your teenager's day should be completely filled with activities. Teenagers need to learn to manage their time well and entertain themselves without resorting to activities that are harmful such as drinking alcohol, and taking drugs.
For some parents, too much activity is hard to manage. Unless there is a late bus that can bring your child home from school or another parent who can help carpool, it is sometimes hard to navigate the different times your child will need to be at an activity.
If you are unable to participate in dropping off your child and picking them up, talk to other parents who are available during those times. See if you can find a parent who could help you out during the week when you are at work. If so, you could offer to swap off travel time for when you're available on the weekends, freeing up the other parent.
This is not to say that every moment of your teenager's day should be completely filled with activities. Teenagers need to learn to manage their time well and entertain themselves without resorting to activities that are harmful such as drinking alcohol, and taking drugs.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Ways to Prevent Underage Drinking: Know What's Happening in Your Teenager's Life
With much more single parent households or two income households, parents are busier than ever these days. Many teenagers are left at home for long periods of time unsupervised. Most parents feel that their child is mature enough to stay home by themselves by the age of 12 and most children are. But leaving a teen or preteen home alone for long periods of time on a regular basis gives them an opportunity to engage in behavior that you wouldn't normally approve of; as well as a way for them to do it without your knowledge and consent.
By nature, teenagers will test their parents. Even a "good kid" will test limits and boundaries, sometimes almost making it a game to see how much they can get away with without mom and dad finding out about it. When no one is around to supervise the comings and goings of a teenager, who is showing up at your house, and when they are leaving, how can a parent know that there is even a problem?
The truth is most teenagers who experiment with alcohol, sex, and drugs do so from the time they get out of school to the time their parents get home from work. Many times their parents are none the wiser.
To prevent your child from having a little too much freedom to get into trouble, see if you can solicit the help of a neighbor who can watch the house to make sure nothing is going on. Talk to your teenager about the rules of the house and for having friends over while you are not there to supervise. Let your teenager know that you will be checking in on them from time to time and that you have a neighbor watching the house to make sure they are safe.
More than likely your teenager will pitch a fit, saying that you do not trust them. Don't let their need to be defensive get you angry. Keep your cool and tell your teenager that you love them and that your only concern is making sure that they are safe when you were not around. Your teenager will have plenty of opportunities to prove to you that you trust him or her in other ways.
By nature, teenagers will test their parents. Even a "good kid" will test limits and boundaries, sometimes almost making it a game to see how much they can get away with without mom and dad finding out about it. When no one is around to supervise the comings and goings of a teenager, who is showing up at your house, and when they are leaving, how can a parent know that there is even a problem?
The truth is most teenagers who experiment with alcohol, sex, and drugs do so from the time they get out of school to the time their parents get home from work. Many times their parents are none the wiser.
To prevent your child from having a little too much freedom to get into trouble, see if you can solicit the help of a neighbor who can watch the house to make sure nothing is going on. Talk to your teenager about the rules of the house and for having friends over while you are not there to supervise. Let your teenager know that you will be checking in on them from time to time and that you have a neighbor watching the house to make sure they are safe.
More than likely your teenager will pitch a fit, saying that you do not trust them. Don't let their need to be defensive get you angry. Keep your cool and tell your teenager that you love them and that your only concern is making sure that they are safe when you were not around. Your teenager will have plenty of opportunities to prove to you that you trust him or her in other ways.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Ways to Prevent Underage Drinking: Talk to Your Children about Alcohol Abuse
It is clear that a teenager's environment does have an effect on whether or not that child will drink alcoholic beverages while underage. That means that alcohol prevention should start in the home.
First, parents need to start talking to their children about alcohol use and abuse before they get to the point where they are drinking. Once they've reached the age of adolescents, they're much less likely to listen to what their parents say. Studies show that the younger a child is when parents start discussing the dangers of underage alcohol and drug use, the more likely they'll be not to partake in that activity.
Children grow and mature at different rates and it's sometimes hard for a parent to know when the time is right to bring up the subject. The best way is to make it part of normal conversation. If you single out a particular time to have "the talk", it'll make your child feel like it's more of a taboo subject rather than just talking about it when you're driving in the car or clearing the dinner dishes off the table. Keeping your conversations easy will also let your child know that this is a subject you feel comfortable talking about and they can feel comfortable coming to you with questions in a non-threatening way.
First, parents need to start talking to their children about alcohol use and abuse before they get to the point where they are drinking. Once they've reached the age of adolescents, they're much less likely to listen to what their parents say. Studies show that the younger a child is when parents start discussing the dangers of underage alcohol and drug use, the more likely they'll be not to partake in that activity.
Children grow and mature at different rates and it's sometimes hard for a parent to know when the time is right to bring up the subject. The best way is to make it part of normal conversation. If you single out a particular time to have "the talk", it'll make your child feel like it's more of a taboo subject rather than just talking about it when you're driving in the car or clearing the dinner dishes off the table. Keeping your conversations easy will also let your child know that this is a subject you feel comfortable talking about and they can feel comfortable coming to you with questions in a non-threatening way.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
So what can you do to keep your child from drinking?
Here are some tips on how to talk to your child about alcohol:
• Start talking about your rules of "no use" early on. Don't wait until your child is a teen or even a pre-teen to discuss alcohol use and its potential harm. And don't assume your child already knows your feelings about the subject, especially if you occasionally indulge in a glass of wine or can of beer. Studies show that children who hear their parents state the rule of "no use" are 42% less likely to drink alcohol as teens than those who do not hear it.
• Talk to your children about what is expected of them. Children are more afraid of losing the respect and pride of a parent than acting out against them. Don't just make an opportunity to talk to your child about alcohol and drugs. Use everyday opportunities and make the conversation part of your life. Children are more likely to bring up the subject themselves if you make the conversation easy such as over dinner, riding in the car, cleaning the kitchen, instead of making "the talk" a big deal.
• Use what is happening in the community to discuss the problem. If a teenager has been in an accident or there is news of an alcohol related situation in the news, use that opportunity to discuss the consequences with your child. Tell them how you'd feel if the situation was happening to them. They may roll their eyes or give you a standard, "I know all that," answer. However, every time you discuss it, a little more will sink in.
• Don't criticize if your child doesn't seem to take the conversation seriously. Children sometimes mask their feelings by changing the subject or making light of a situation. It's probably affected them more than you think.
• Don't yell if your child gets defensive. Everyone knows that adolescents can have quick tongues and it's easy for them to say the wrong thing leaving a parent wanting to issue a reprimand. There's a lot going on in your teenager's head and they can only absorb so much at a time. You'll have the opportunity to revisit the subject again as long as you keep the lines of communication open. How you react the first time will dictate how comfortable your teenager will feel coming to you on his or her own.
• Start talking about your rules of "no use" early on. Don't wait until your child is a teen or even a pre-teen to discuss alcohol use and its potential harm. And don't assume your child already knows your feelings about the subject, especially if you occasionally indulge in a glass of wine or can of beer. Studies show that children who hear their parents state the rule of "no use" are 42% less likely to drink alcohol as teens than those who do not hear it.
• Talk to your children about what is expected of them. Children are more afraid of losing the respect and pride of a parent than acting out against them. Don't just make an opportunity to talk to your child about alcohol and drugs. Use everyday opportunities and make the conversation part of your life. Children are more likely to bring up the subject themselves if you make the conversation easy such as over dinner, riding in the car, cleaning the kitchen, instead of making "the talk" a big deal.
• Use what is happening in the community to discuss the problem. If a teenager has been in an accident or there is news of an alcohol related situation in the news, use that opportunity to discuss the consequences with your child. Tell them how you'd feel if the situation was happening to them. They may roll their eyes or give you a standard, "I know all that," answer. However, every time you discuss it, a little more will sink in.
• Don't criticize if your child doesn't seem to take the conversation seriously. Children sometimes mask their feelings by changing the subject or making light of a situation. It's probably affected them more than you think.
• Don't yell if your child gets defensive. Everyone knows that adolescents can have quick tongues and it's easy for them to say the wrong thing leaving a parent wanting to issue a reprimand. There's a lot going on in your teenager's head and they can only absorb so much at a time. You'll have the opportunity to revisit the subject again as long as you keep the lines of communication open. How you react the first time will dictate how comfortable your teenager will feel coming to you on his or her own.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Recognizing the Signs of Alcohol Abuse
With so many parents working long hours, it is easy to either miss the signs of alcohol abuse or explain them away. Many parents don't want to believe that their beloved child is engaging in alcohol use. But burying your head in the sand is the worst thing you can do regarding your child and your family.
Some people believe that only "those" types of teens drink alcohol and that "good" kids won't drink or become alcoholics. But that's not true. Here are some questions that all parents must ask themselves about their child and warning signs that parents should be looking for.
Does another member of the family have of drinking problem?
Is my child experiencing a loss in their life either through divorce, death, or a break up with a girlfriend or boyfriend?
Has my child experienced bullying, physical or sexual abuse?
Is my child avoiding friends or family and spending a great deal of time alone?
Is my child getting in trouble at school by cutting classes or cutting school, sometimes for days in a row?
Has my child's grades started to fall with no apparent reason why?
Has my child lost interest in their favorite hobbies and activities?
When my child's talks about his friends, are they friends that I know? Does he become defensive about them, and has he abandoned his old friends for these new friends?
Does my child constantly argue with me and other members of the family for no apparent reason?
Does my child seem lethargic, hung over, confused, or have difficulty remembering certain things?
Obviously, any of these things listed above can be because of circumstances other than alcohol abuse. But if your child is experiencing any of the above, at the very least it is time to sit them down and have a serious talk about what is going on. Too often we become so wrapped up in our daily responsibilities that it's easy to miss the signs of a problem like alcohol or drug abuse until it is hitting us in the face. It can sometimes be hard to admit that the child we love so dearly has slipped into behavior that is frightening, potentially dangerous, and sometimes even out of control.
If you find that your child is drinking alcohol and it is starting to affect his or her schoolwork and life at home, talk to your school counselor and health care provider. Ask them for advice on how to handle the problem. Making the school aware that there might be a problem can help ward off problems at school.
Many times parents are not aware that a child is drinking because they've become good at hiding it just like adult alcoholics. Some teens that drink alcohol before school remain buzzed during the day and then go home on the bus tired and sober. It's easy for a parent to think that the child is tired because they've gotten up early and had a long day at school. If the school counselor and administration is aware of the problem, they can be on the lookout for any strange behavior during school hours.
Some people believe that only "those" types of teens drink alcohol and that "good" kids won't drink or become alcoholics. But that's not true. Here are some questions that all parents must ask themselves about their child and warning signs that parents should be looking for.
Does another member of the family have of drinking problem?
Is my child experiencing a loss in their life either through divorce, death, or a break up with a girlfriend or boyfriend?
Has my child experienced bullying, physical or sexual abuse?
Is my child avoiding friends or family and spending a great deal of time alone?
Is my child getting in trouble at school by cutting classes or cutting school, sometimes for days in a row?
Has my child's grades started to fall with no apparent reason why?
Has my child lost interest in their favorite hobbies and activities?
When my child's talks about his friends, are they friends that I know? Does he become defensive about them, and has he abandoned his old friends for these new friends?
Does my child constantly argue with me and other members of the family for no apparent reason?
Does my child seem lethargic, hung over, confused, or have difficulty remembering certain things?
Obviously, any of these things listed above can be because of circumstances other than alcohol abuse. But if your child is experiencing any of the above, at the very least it is time to sit them down and have a serious talk about what is going on. Too often we become so wrapped up in our daily responsibilities that it's easy to miss the signs of a problem like alcohol or drug abuse until it is hitting us in the face. It can sometimes be hard to admit that the child we love so dearly has slipped into behavior that is frightening, potentially dangerous, and sometimes even out of control.
If you find that your child is drinking alcohol and it is starting to affect his or her schoolwork and life at home, talk to your school counselor and health care provider. Ask them for advice on how to handle the problem. Making the school aware that there might be a problem can help ward off problems at school.
Many times parents are not aware that a child is drinking because they've become good at hiding it just like adult alcoholics. Some teens that drink alcohol before school remain buzzed during the day and then go home on the bus tired and sober. It's easy for a parent to think that the child is tired because they've gotten up early and had a long day at school. If the school counselor and administration is aware of the problem, they can be on the lookout for any strange behavior during school hours.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
The Best Age to Legalize Drinking
With the minimum drinking age set at 21 years old, many teens and young adults have argued the unfairness of the law. If you're old enough to vote for the next president of the United States and old enough to join the military and fight for our country why are you not old enough to have a drink of alcohol?
On the surface it sounds like a valid argument. At the age of 18 young adults are legal to live their life as they choose no matter what their parents say. However, there are specific reasons why young adults have to wait until the age of 21 before they can legally take a drink of alcohol. Let's take a look at these reasons.
Up until the late 1960s, with a few exceptions, the drinking age had been 21 years old. Many states started experimenting with lowering their drinking age to 18. However, it became obvious very quickly the error of that change. The burden then fell to the states to provide valid statistics to prove why the drinking age needed to be changed back to age 21.
The statistics showed that there were more highway deaths of teens when the drinking age was lowered to age 18. Teens in this age group, from age 18 to 20, did not have the maturity needed to understand the consequences of drinking and driving. At that point lawmakers worked at changing the drinking age back to 21. It was not done all at once, but rather changed over a period of time. When the drinking age finally reached 21 years of age again, statistics showed that there was a significant decrease in highway deaths from teen drinking and driving.
If you translate the number of accidents that have been avoided by the change in drinking age into lives saved, the number is staggering. Over the last 25 years approximately 21,000 teenagers’ lives have been saved. I'm sure most parents will agree that that number is sufficient proof enough for the change, even if teenagers and young adults don't agree.
In adolescence, the brain does not stop developing until around the time a person reaches 20 years of age. One of the last regions of the brain to mature involves the ability to assess situations and make complex judgments. This is the reason why so many young people make poor choices in their teen years. While in the early years of life the human brain has the capacity for more memory and learning, it does not have the maturity to use that knowledge wisely. If you couple that with a teen’s innate curiosity and desire to take risks, it can be a recipe for disaster if alcohol is also present.
Further studies also show that there is more potential for alcoholism later in life the earlier a teen starts drinking. Although most people think of alcoholism as being a problem for adults, the pattern of behavior begins early on. The younger the child is when they start to drink alcohol the more likely they will continue to drink and abuse alcohol.
While an adult may have a glass of wine with dinner, or a beer or two after mowing the lawn, a teenager doesn't view having a drink of alcohol the same way. If a teen is engaging in alcohol use, the sole purpose of doing so is usually to get drunk.
On the surface it sounds like a valid argument. At the age of 18 young adults are legal to live their life as they choose no matter what their parents say. However, there are specific reasons why young adults have to wait until the age of 21 before they can legally take a drink of alcohol. Let's take a look at these reasons.
Up until the late 1960s, with a few exceptions, the drinking age had been 21 years old. Many states started experimenting with lowering their drinking age to 18. However, it became obvious very quickly the error of that change. The burden then fell to the states to provide valid statistics to prove why the drinking age needed to be changed back to age 21.
The statistics showed that there were more highway deaths of teens when the drinking age was lowered to age 18. Teens in this age group, from age 18 to 20, did not have the maturity needed to understand the consequences of drinking and driving. At that point lawmakers worked at changing the drinking age back to 21. It was not done all at once, but rather changed over a period of time. When the drinking age finally reached 21 years of age again, statistics showed that there was a significant decrease in highway deaths from teen drinking and driving.
If you translate the number of accidents that have been avoided by the change in drinking age into lives saved, the number is staggering. Over the last 25 years approximately 21,000 teenagers’ lives have been saved. I'm sure most parents will agree that that number is sufficient proof enough for the change, even if teenagers and young adults don't agree.
In adolescence, the brain does not stop developing until around the time a person reaches 20 years of age. One of the last regions of the brain to mature involves the ability to assess situations and make complex judgments. This is the reason why so many young people make poor choices in their teen years. While in the early years of life the human brain has the capacity for more memory and learning, it does not have the maturity to use that knowledge wisely. If you couple that with a teen’s innate curiosity and desire to take risks, it can be a recipe for disaster if alcohol is also present.
Further studies also show that there is more potential for alcoholism later in life the earlier a teen starts drinking. Although most people think of alcoholism as being a problem for adults, the pattern of behavior begins early on. The younger the child is when they start to drink alcohol the more likely they will continue to drink and abuse alcohol.
While an adult may have a glass of wine with dinner, or a beer or two after mowing the lawn, a teenager doesn't view having a drink of alcohol the same way. If a teen is engaging in alcohol use, the sole purpose of doing so is usually to get drunk.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Myths about Teens and Alcohol
Many of the myths about alcohol use haven't changed much since I was walking the halls of high school. And believe me, that was many years ago. How these myths got started is anyone's guess, but unfortunately, teenagers, who are already sure they know more than their parents, hold onto these myths like they are gospel.
Below we'll explore 12 of those myths about alcohol and teenage alcohol use and try to shed some light on the validity of those myths.
Myth#1 – As long as you have a big meal right before you party, you can drink alcohol without it affecting you.
Truth – While eating a full meal can slow down the absorption of alcohol in the bloodstream, the amount of alcohol consumed over a certain period of time and the size of the person will have the most effect on how alcohol affects the blood.
Myth#2 – Sticking to one kind of alcohol will keep you from getting drunk more than switching from beer to wine or hard liquor.
Truth – It’s the amount of alcohol in the drink that gets you drunk, not switching types of alcoholic beverages. After all, alcohol in any beverage is still alcohol.
Myth#3 – Only adults become alcoholics because you have to drink for a long time before your body is affected.
Truth – Teenagers are just as susceptible to becoming alcoholics as adults, maybe more so because their bodies are still developing. Studies show that the earlier you start drinking, the higher the chance that you'll eventually become an alcoholic.
Myth#4 – Alcohol wakes you up, gives you energy so you can party all night.
Truth – Actually, alcohol is a depressant that will bring you down. Initially, you might feel a rush from the sugar in the alcoholic drink; however, it will soon be followed with a downward fall. Speech, thinking and motor skills are slowed down under the influence of even small amounts of alcohol. When a person drinks too much, their sleep is due to the brain shutting down from numbness of the alcohol. Drunks are harder to rouse awake than people who are not drunk.
Myth#5 - Hard liquor like whiskey and vodka will make you drunk a lot quicker than beer or wine.
Truth – As I mentioned earlier, alcohol in any form is still alcohol and will get you drunk at the same rate no matter how it is ingested.
Myth#6 - Beer can't give you any permanent damage and is healthier to drink than hard liquor.
Truth - No matter what alcoholic beverage you drink, large quantities of it will damage your body. Teenagers who drink regularly can have damage to their hearts, liver, stomach, and other critical organs. This damage can have a lasting effect throughout the teenager’s life. Excessive drinking can also lead to disease of the pancreas which can eventually lead to diabetes.
Myth#7 - Drinking a lot of coffee or taking a cold shower will help someone who has had too much to drink become sober again.
Truth – Absolutely not. The only thing that will sober a person who is had too much to drink is time. The body needs time to metabolize the alcohol in the bloodstream. No amount of coffee or cold showers will speed that up. You'll only create a very wet and very wide awake drunk.
Myth#8 – Drinking a lot of alcohol at once will only make you throw up and have a bad hangover the next morning. It can't damage you forever.
Truth - Drinking alcohol in large quantities quickly can lead to alcohol poisoning which can numb the brain and sometimes lead to death in only a few hours. It may look like a person has passed out from drinking too much. But if they are left untreated, their brainstem may numb if enough alcohol has been ingested, causing a shut down of major body organs such as the brain and the heart. The amount of alcohol that can be ingested before alcohol poisoning occurs is different for everyone.
Myth#9 - Taking drugs like marijuana, cocaine and heroin is a much bigger problem than drinking alcohol.
Truth - Alcohol is the number one drug of choice in the country and is far easier for a teenager to get than marijuana, cocaine, and heroin combined. Teenagers are more likely to die from drinking alcohol than any other drug; possibly because the fear of having alcohol on hand without being arrested for possession is markedly reduced given that alcohol is legalized for adults 21 years of age and older.
Myth#10 – If my friends are drinking alcohol, it’s not my business to stop them. They have to do it on their own.
Truth – You aren’t responsible for the actions of your friends. However, if you are a true friend, you’ll try to discourage your friends from indulging in alcohol. You can also lead by example by not drinking alcohol yourself. This lessens drinking due to peer pressure.
Myth#11 - Drinking alcohol will make you appear more grown up and sexy just like the movie stars and sports figures in the advertisements.
Truth - The only the person who might think you're grown up and sexy is you! Teenagers who drink alcohol stop thinking about the consequences of what they're doing. They're more likely to take unnecessary risks, engage in sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy or STDs, get behind the wheel of a car and possibly get themselves or someone else killed. There's nothing sexy or grown-up about that.
Myth#12 - Teenagers who drink only hurt themselves so why is it a problem?
Truth – Unfortunately, teenagers who drink usually don't do it alone. Even if they did, there is still a teenager's family to consider. It's hard for a parent or sibling watch the person they love abuse alcohol. Also, many traffic accidents occur that involve alcohol use by an underage drinker who does not get hurt. But that doesn't mean the person in the other car, walking on the side of the road, or riding their bicycle doesn't get injured or killed by that drunk driver. Most drunks don't even realize they've hit someone until it is too late.
I'm sure there are more myths that have come around since I was a teen. Whether you discuss them all with your child or not is not really the issue. The important thing is to let your teenager know and understand that what they are hearing from their friends is not necessarily true and can hurt them if they don't understand the facts.
Allow your child to sit down and read about what alcohol really does to the human body. Sometimes taking health class in school or participating in a D.A.R.E. program only works for so long before a teen forgets what they've learned. Remind them often!
While your teenager might not want to hear about all the dangers and lash out because you don't "trust" them, don't let it discourage you. Talk to them in a factual way so they don't feel they're being lectured. When you hear of something in the news relating to alcohol use, use that opportunity to bring up your beliefs and views with your child and ask them how they feel about what they've just seen on television. If you are having an alcoholic beverage, show them that an adult can drink responsibly without bingeing to have a good time.
Your actions and the way you present these myths and facts will determine how much your teenager will absorb. They need to be able to assimilate this information own; especially when you are not around to make a good choice for them.
Below we'll explore 12 of those myths about alcohol and teenage alcohol use and try to shed some light on the validity of those myths.
Myth#1 – As long as you have a big meal right before you party, you can drink alcohol without it affecting you.
Truth – While eating a full meal can slow down the absorption of alcohol in the bloodstream, the amount of alcohol consumed over a certain period of time and the size of the person will have the most effect on how alcohol affects the blood.
Myth#2 – Sticking to one kind of alcohol will keep you from getting drunk more than switching from beer to wine or hard liquor.
Truth – It’s the amount of alcohol in the drink that gets you drunk, not switching types of alcoholic beverages. After all, alcohol in any beverage is still alcohol.
Myth#3 – Only adults become alcoholics because you have to drink for a long time before your body is affected.
Truth – Teenagers are just as susceptible to becoming alcoholics as adults, maybe more so because their bodies are still developing. Studies show that the earlier you start drinking, the higher the chance that you'll eventually become an alcoholic.
Myth#4 – Alcohol wakes you up, gives you energy so you can party all night.
Truth – Actually, alcohol is a depressant that will bring you down. Initially, you might feel a rush from the sugar in the alcoholic drink; however, it will soon be followed with a downward fall. Speech, thinking and motor skills are slowed down under the influence of even small amounts of alcohol. When a person drinks too much, their sleep is due to the brain shutting down from numbness of the alcohol. Drunks are harder to rouse awake than people who are not drunk.
Myth#5 - Hard liquor like whiskey and vodka will make you drunk a lot quicker than beer or wine.
Truth – As I mentioned earlier, alcohol in any form is still alcohol and will get you drunk at the same rate no matter how it is ingested.
Myth#6 - Beer can't give you any permanent damage and is healthier to drink than hard liquor.
Truth - No matter what alcoholic beverage you drink, large quantities of it will damage your body. Teenagers who drink regularly can have damage to their hearts, liver, stomach, and other critical organs. This damage can have a lasting effect throughout the teenager’s life. Excessive drinking can also lead to disease of the pancreas which can eventually lead to diabetes.
Myth#7 - Drinking a lot of coffee or taking a cold shower will help someone who has had too much to drink become sober again.
Truth – Absolutely not. The only thing that will sober a person who is had too much to drink is time. The body needs time to metabolize the alcohol in the bloodstream. No amount of coffee or cold showers will speed that up. You'll only create a very wet and very wide awake drunk.
Myth#8 – Drinking a lot of alcohol at once will only make you throw up and have a bad hangover the next morning. It can't damage you forever.
Truth - Drinking alcohol in large quantities quickly can lead to alcohol poisoning which can numb the brain and sometimes lead to death in only a few hours. It may look like a person has passed out from drinking too much. But if they are left untreated, their brainstem may numb if enough alcohol has been ingested, causing a shut down of major body organs such as the brain and the heart. The amount of alcohol that can be ingested before alcohol poisoning occurs is different for everyone.
Myth#9 - Taking drugs like marijuana, cocaine and heroin is a much bigger problem than drinking alcohol.
Truth - Alcohol is the number one drug of choice in the country and is far easier for a teenager to get than marijuana, cocaine, and heroin combined. Teenagers are more likely to die from drinking alcohol than any other drug; possibly because the fear of having alcohol on hand without being arrested for possession is markedly reduced given that alcohol is legalized for adults 21 years of age and older.
Myth#10 – If my friends are drinking alcohol, it’s not my business to stop them. They have to do it on their own.
Truth – You aren’t responsible for the actions of your friends. However, if you are a true friend, you’ll try to discourage your friends from indulging in alcohol. You can also lead by example by not drinking alcohol yourself. This lessens drinking due to peer pressure.
Myth#11 - Drinking alcohol will make you appear more grown up and sexy just like the movie stars and sports figures in the advertisements.
Truth - The only the person who might think you're grown up and sexy is you! Teenagers who drink alcohol stop thinking about the consequences of what they're doing. They're more likely to take unnecessary risks, engage in sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy or STDs, get behind the wheel of a car and possibly get themselves or someone else killed. There's nothing sexy or grown-up about that.
Myth#12 - Teenagers who drink only hurt themselves so why is it a problem?
Truth – Unfortunately, teenagers who drink usually don't do it alone. Even if they did, there is still a teenager's family to consider. It's hard for a parent or sibling watch the person they love abuse alcohol. Also, many traffic accidents occur that involve alcohol use by an underage drinker who does not get hurt. But that doesn't mean the person in the other car, walking on the side of the road, or riding their bicycle doesn't get injured or killed by that drunk driver. Most drunks don't even realize they've hit someone until it is too late.
I'm sure there are more myths that have come around since I was a teen. Whether you discuss them all with your child or not is not really the issue. The important thing is to let your teenager know and understand that what they are hearing from their friends is not necessarily true and can hurt them if they don't understand the facts.
Allow your child to sit down and read about what alcohol really does to the human body. Sometimes taking health class in school or participating in a D.A.R.E. program only works for so long before a teen forgets what they've learned. Remind them often!
While your teenager might not want to hear about all the dangers and lash out because you don't "trust" them, don't let it discourage you. Talk to them in a factual way so they don't feel they're being lectured. When you hear of something in the news relating to alcohol use, use that opportunity to bring up your beliefs and views with your child and ask them how they feel about what they've just seen on television. If you are having an alcoholic beverage, show them that an adult can drink responsibly without bingeing to have a good time.
Your actions and the way you present these myths and facts will determine how much your teenager will absorb. They need to be able to assimilate this information own; especially when you are not around to make a good choice for them.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Drinking Alcohol: Girls vs. Boys
It has long been thought that boys will be boys and that underage drinking is mainly done by the male population as they try to one up their buddies. Unfortunately, the number of underage girls who are drinking excessively (also known as binge drinking) is closing in on the number of boys.
While underage drinking is a serious problem for both girls and boys, drinking affects a girl's body different than it affects a boy's body. For one thing, a girl's body is normally slighter and has less mass than a boy's body, therefore a girl will have much less tolerance for the same amount of alcohol consumed. A March 2006 Georgetown University Center study shows that many girls have started binge drinking, (consuming 5 or more alcoholic drinks on a given occasion) trying to keep up with their male counterparts, even though it takes less alcohol for them to get drunk.
This can be a recipe for disaster. Girls who have become drunk are far more likely to engage in sexual activity than they would not if they were sober. Given their age and maturity level, these impulsive actions lead to a wide range of social problems. Girls might regret their actions, find themselves pregnant or have contracted STDs because they were too drunk to think about taking precautionary birth control measures.
While boys at the same age are hailed as heroes by their peers, girls can sometimes end up with less than desirable reputations that will haunt them through their teenage years. For some girls, it can create depression, social anxiety, and a need to withdraw, sometimes by drinking more alcohol to escape.
Girls are almost more likely to become alcoholics than boys simply because their bodies can't handle the alcohol in the same manner as boys. Because they try to keep up with "the guys" by drinking the same amount of alcohol, they tend to have a higher blood alcohol level for the same amount of alcohol consumed, putting them at a greater risk of alcohol poisoning and raising their chances of addiction. It can become a vicious circle.
While parents should take care to educate both their sons and daughters, girls should be taught the additional issues of how alcohol affects young teenage girls and the consequences of excessive alcohol use.
While underage drinking is a serious problem for both girls and boys, drinking affects a girl's body different than it affects a boy's body. For one thing, a girl's body is normally slighter and has less mass than a boy's body, therefore a girl will have much less tolerance for the same amount of alcohol consumed. A March 2006 Georgetown University Center study shows that many girls have started binge drinking, (consuming 5 or more alcoholic drinks on a given occasion) trying to keep up with their male counterparts, even though it takes less alcohol for them to get drunk.
This can be a recipe for disaster. Girls who have become drunk are far more likely to engage in sexual activity than they would not if they were sober. Given their age and maturity level, these impulsive actions lead to a wide range of social problems. Girls might regret their actions, find themselves pregnant or have contracted STDs because they were too drunk to think about taking precautionary birth control measures.
While boys at the same age are hailed as heroes by their peers, girls can sometimes end up with less than desirable reputations that will haunt them through their teenage years. For some girls, it can create depression, social anxiety, and a need to withdraw, sometimes by drinking more alcohol to escape.
Girls are almost more likely to become alcoholics than boys simply because their bodies can't handle the alcohol in the same manner as boys. Because they try to keep up with "the guys" by drinking the same amount of alcohol, they tend to have a higher blood alcohol level for the same amount of alcohol consumed, putting them at a greater risk of alcohol poisoning and raising their chances of addiction. It can become a vicious circle.
While parents should take care to educate both their sons and daughters, girls should be taught the additional issues of how alcohol affects young teenage girls and the consequences of excessive alcohol use.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Why do Teenagers Drink Alcohol - continued
The need for independence in breaking away from their parents is not the only reason that teenagers drink alcohol. Some teenagers have seen their parents grow up drinking alcohol their whole lives. They view it as either a way to be social or as a way to relax. Television and magazines also glamorize alcohol use. Sports celebrities endorse beer ads during television sports events. If a teenager looks up to that sports hero, that teenager might want to emulate them.
Teenagers also drink to fit in with their peer group. While they may have been taught by their parents all the dangers that drinking in youth can cause, it can sometimes be hard to remember those words when a friend is needling them to take "just one drink".
It still goes deeper than that. The teenage years are a rough period for many kids. Sometimes teenagers get depressed, confused, or anxious either about school, a boyfriend or girlfriend, or just fitting in.
A teen's depression may have nothing to do with school at all but rather problems that the teen is experiencing inside the home. With so many marriages ending in divorce, some teens are left to handle their grief on their own. If a parent is going through their own grief, it's easy not to notice that your child has suddenly developed the habit of hitting the bottle.
Children who experience physical or sexual abuse or have experienced the death of a parent or sibling might also try to escape their grief by experimenting with alcohol. This becomes risky because the potential to abuse alcohol rather than just experiment with it is greater when a child is turning to alcohol for escapism. It's no different for an adult, however, a child's body and mind are still developing and the potential for long-term damage is greater.
Studies show a direct link between alcohol advertising and teenage drinking. The more alcohol advertisements that are available to teenagers, even if they aren't aimed specifically at teens, the higher the number of teens that will drink. This is perhaps because marketing executives portray drinking in a sexy way, something that only grown-ups do to be sophisticated. Teenagers by nature are in a hurry to prove themselves as adults, however lack the maturity to fully understand the consequences of drinking.
There are many reasons why teenagers drink. Parents should be open to all possibilities as their teenagers move through high school into adulthood.
Teenagers also drink to fit in with their peer group. While they may have been taught by their parents all the dangers that drinking in youth can cause, it can sometimes be hard to remember those words when a friend is needling them to take "just one drink".
It still goes deeper than that. The teenage years are a rough period for many kids. Sometimes teenagers get depressed, confused, or anxious either about school, a boyfriend or girlfriend, or just fitting in.
A teen's depression may have nothing to do with school at all but rather problems that the teen is experiencing inside the home. With so many marriages ending in divorce, some teens are left to handle their grief on their own. If a parent is going through their own grief, it's easy not to notice that your child has suddenly developed the habit of hitting the bottle.
Children who experience physical or sexual abuse or have experienced the death of a parent or sibling might also try to escape their grief by experimenting with alcohol. This becomes risky because the potential to abuse alcohol rather than just experiment with it is greater when a child is turning to alcohol for escapism. It's no different for an adult, however, a child's body and mind are still developing and the potential for long-term damage is greater.
Studies show a direct link between alcohol advertising and teenage drinking. The more alcohol advertisements that are available to teenagers, even if they aren't aimed specifically at teens, the higher the number of teens that will drink. This is perhaps because marketing executives portray drinking in a sexy way, something that only grown-ups do to be sophisticated. Teenagers by nature are in a hurry to prove themselves as adults, however lack the maturity to fully understand the consequences of drinking.
There are many reasons why teenagers drink. Parents should be open to all possibilities as their teenagers move through high school into adulthood.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Why do Teenagers Drink Alcohol?
When children go through adolescents, their bodies and their emotions go through a tremendous change. Teens are under constant peer pressure, an intense need to conform and fit in with their peer group. At the same time, they’re discovering their independence and are beginning to break away from their parents. One of the ways they exert their independence is to engage in behavior that is risky and sometimes a little destructive. Unfortunately, they do not have the maturity to go with the independence and often times do not make good choices.
A child’s brain continues to develop into their early twenties. During this development, teens experience a wide range of behaviors that are often destructive. Curiosity often rules over common sense and the need to push to the next thrill becomes paramount to them.
Teens also do not have a realistic sense of mortality. They feel invincible. They think that they can't be touched by all the stories they’ve heard of teens that have been hurt or killed through drugs or alcohol because it happened to someone else. Those realities seem almost untouchable to them. This gives them a false sense of security to take bigger risks.
For a parent, this age is especially scary. Every time your child walks out the door or gets into a car with a friend you worry that they will be faced with making a decision to drink and ultimately make a bad choice that could end up costing them their life.
The truth is, no matter what we as parents say to our children, over 60% of high school seniors admit to drinking alcohol at least once a week. Many of them have become crafty at hiding this fact even from the parent with the most watchful eye.
A child’s brain continues to develop into their early twenties. During this development, teens experience a wide range of behaviors that are often destructive. Curiosity often rules over common sense and the need to push to the next thrill becomes paramount to them.
Teens also do not have a realistic sense of mortality. They feel invincible. They think that they can't be touched by all the stories they’ve heard of teens that have been hurt or killed through drugs or alcohol because it happened to someone else. Those realities seem almost untouchable to them. This gives them a false sense of security to take bigger risks.
For a parent, this age is especially scary. Every time your child walks out the door or gets into a car with a friend you worry that they will be faced with making a decision to drink and ultimately make a bad choice that could end up costing them their life.
The truth is, no matter what we as parents say to our children, over 60% of high school seniors admit to drinking alcohol at least once a week. Many of them have become crafty at hiding this fact even from the parent with the most watchful eye.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Underage Drinking
With so much talk of drugs like marijuana and heroin in America, it is alcohol that continues to be the first and foremost drug that people under the age of 21 abuse more often. Unfortunately, even programs such as D.A.R.E., which are readily talked in school as early as the first grade, teenagers like the majority to fail understand the consequences that go along with consuming too much alcohol.
Even with so much education on the subject from the D.A.R.E. programs and programs established by MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, teenagers continue to consume alcohol at an alarming rate.
A 2006 study on youth drinking by Georgetown University Center states that each day approximately 5,400 children under 16 years old take their first drink, each day 3 teenagers die in drinking and driving accidents and another 6 teenagers die of other alcohol related accidents. Having a teenager, I find that not only upsetting, but frightening.
We spend so much time making sure our kids brush their teeth, do their homework and get good grades only to have alcohol undo everything in the blink of an eye.
Underage drinking is not a new thing. We can look back to the days of moonshine and saloons to understand the love of a good drink. However, the reasons teenagers drink and the frequency teenagers drink are far different than those of adults.
Research shows that the younger a child is when they have their first alcoholic beverage, the more likely that child will be to become an alcoholic. That's a tough legacy to leave with a child for a little sip of beer at backyard barbeque. While most Americans believe that the bulk of alcohol is consumed by adults and not kids, it is important to note that a staggering 20-25% of all alcohol that is consumed in the United States is consumed by underage drinkers between the ages of 11 and 20.
Even with so much education on the subject from the D.A.R.E. programs and programs established by MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, teenagers continue to consume alcohol at an alarming rate.
A 2006 study on youth drinking by Georgetown University Center states that each day approximately 5,400 children under 16 years old take their first drink, each day 3 teenagers die in drinking and driving accidents and another 6 teenagers die of other alcohol related accidents. Having a teenager, I find that not only upsetting, but frightening.
We spend so much time making sure our kids brush their teeth, do their homework and get good grades only to have alcohol undo everything in the blink of an eye.
Underage drinking is not a new thing. We can look back to the days of moonshine and saloons to understand the love of a good drink. However, the reasons teenagers drink and the frequency teenagers drink are far different than those of adults.
Research shows that the younger a child is when they have their first alcoholic beverage, the more likely that child will be to become an alcoholic. That's a tough legacy to leave with a child for a little sip of beer at backyard barbeque. While most Americans believe that the bulk of alcohol is consumed by adults and not kids, it is important to note that a staggering 20-25% of all alcohol that is consumed in the United States is consumed by underage drinkers between the ages of 11 and 20.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Britney Spears and “Promises”
When singer/actress and teeny bopper icon Britney Spears shaved her head in February 2007 and shared with the world that she was having emotional problems due to substance abuse, the tabloids held open season on the poor young woman. She quickly – and wisely -- checked into what must be one of the most luxurious alcohol/drug rehabilitation centers in the United States, if not the world - Promises, with alcohol and drug rehab live-in facilities in Malibu and South Los Angeles.
While its environments are knockout gorgeous, its holistic approach to treatment is its drawing card. They promise to deliver a comprehensive treatment program that combines the best parts of a 12-step program with comprehensive detoxification and medical treatment.
“As part of our dedication to individual treatment approaches, we make use of all drug and alcohol treatment tools at our disposal: – medical, social, psychological and spiritual approaches to treat the addict. Because alcoholism and drug addiction have many, many causes, it makes sense that varying treatments are needed,” says “Promises.”
While its environments are knockout gorgeous, its holistic approach to treatment is its drawing card. They promise to deliver a comprehensive treatment program that combines the best parts of a 12-step program with comprehensive detoxification and medical treatment.
“As part of our dedication to individual treatment approaches, we make use of all drug and alcohol treatment tools at our disposal: – medical, social, psychological and spiritual approaches to treat the addict. Because alcoholism and drug addiction have many, many causes, it makes sense that varying treatments are needed,” says “Promises.”
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