TEENS AND ALCOHOL
Though drinking alcohol is illegal under the age of 21, alcohol continues to be the substance most abused by American teens.
By the end of high school, nearly three quarters of all students have consumed more than just a few sips of alcohol, and more than a third started as early as eighth grade (National Institute of Drug Abuse).17.4% of teens confess to heavy use (binge drinking) within the past 30 days (SAMSHA). Read more...
The issue of "Teens & Alcohol" was recently addressed by the Brookline Wellness Summit. Check out the Parent Update for facts and strategies/actions plans outlined by participants during this lively community forum. In addition, the summit addressed "Teen Alcohol Use & Risky Sexual Behavior" (read the Parent Update here) and "Teens & Parties."
For more information on local resources for teen alcohol abuse and related problems, go to https://b-sapp.org/
Check out this excellent tip sheet on Ten Ways to Boost Parent/Child Communication.
If you know or suspect your child is using alcohol, The Partnership for a Drug Free America offers parents an online e intervention book What to do if your child is drinking or using drugs.
Though drinking alcohol is illegal under the age of 21, alcohol continues to be the substance most abused by American teens.
By the end of high school, nearly three quarters of all students have consumed more than just a few sips of alcohol, and more than a third started as early as eighth grade (National Institute of Drug Abuse).17.4% of teens confess to heavy use (binge drinking) within the past 30 days (SAMSHA). Read more...
The issue of "Teens & Alcohol" was recently addressed by the Brookline Wellness Summit. Check out the Parent Update for facts and strategies/actions plans outlined by participants during this lively community forum. In addition, the summit addressed "Teen Alcohol Use & Risky Sexual Behavior" (read the Parent Update here) and "Teens & Parties."
For more information on local resources for teen alcohol abuse and related problems, go to https://b-sapp.org/
Check out this excellent tip sheet on Ten Ways to Boost Parent/Child Communication.
If you know or suspect your child is using alcohol, The Partnership for a Drug Free America offers parents an online e intervention book What to do if your child is drinking or using drugs.
TEENS & ALCOHOL
BHS teens report that when they drink, they drink to get drunk, and this can often hit the level of binge drinking (four drinks for girls, five for boys, in less than two hours). Teens say it happens nearly every weekend, and it can have dangerous effects on the developing brain and also lead to risky behavior. 17% of BHS teens report that after drinking, they engaged in sexual activity they regretted afterward. Check out the Parent Updates on “Teens & Alcohol” and "Teen Alcohol Use & Risky Sexual Behavior."
B-PEN also offers a new "Guide for Hosting an Alcohol-Free Teen Party."
BHS teens report that when they drink, they drink to get drunk, and this can often hit the level of binge drinking (four drinks for girls, five for boys, in less than two hours). Teens say it happens nearly every weekend, and it can have dangerous effects on the developing brain and also lead to risky behavior. 17% of BHS teens report that after drinking, they engaged in sexual activity they regretted afterward. Check out the Parent Updates on “Teens & Alcohol” and "Teen Alcohol Use & Risky Sexual Behavior."
B-PEN also offers a new "Guide for Hosting an Alcohol-Free Teen Party."
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PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING... PRICELESSConfused about Social Host Laws? A new brochure from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING...PRICELESS, effectively outlines these laws and offers an excellent Action Plan for Parents with suggestions for talking to adolescents about the risks involved with underage drinking and realistic plans for what to do if they find themselves in an unsafe situation. See what the Norfolk County DA's office says about social hosting.
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CHECK OUT TEEN SAFE
The website Teen Safe is designed to foster better family communication, promote resilience and healthy activities, and reduce risky teen behaviors via true-life stories, scientific evidence, and helpful educational materials for parents and teens/pre-teens. The site offers a free 15-minute video course for parents that is quite informative about the effects of substance use on teen brain development. The section detailing the impact of early marijuana use of mental health is especially worth noting as medical marijuana is beginning to be a part of our culture and teens continue to think weed is safer than alcohol. It’s only 15 minutes long, and at least one local pediatrician is asking all his patients’ parents to check it out!
The website Teen Safe is designed to foster better family communication, promote resilience and healthy activities, and reduce risky teen behaviors via true-life stories, scientific evidence, and helpful educational materials for parents and teens/pre-teens. The site offers a free 15-minute video course for parents that is quite informative about the effects of substance use on teen brain development. The section detailing the impact of early marijuana use of mental health is especially worth noting as medical marijuana is beginning to be a part of our culture and teens continue to think weed is safer than alcohol. It’s only 15 minutes long, and at least one local pediatrician is asking all his patients’ parents to check it out!