7 Ways to Protect Your Child from Drugs and Alcohol
Myth 1: My kids are good kids. They won't get into alcohol or other drugs.
FACT: Good kids can make really bad decisions because their brains are not yet fully developed.
A recent wave of new scientific studies shows that the brain is far from developed until at least age 20, possibly even older. During this time, the area in the front of the brain continues to develop. This is part of the brain used in decision-making.
Developing Functions in the Teen Brain
• Planning
• Judgment
• Organization
• Impulse control
• Thinking through consequences
• Reading other people's feelings
ACT: Be patient with your teen. Remember that critical areas of the brain are still forming.
TO LEARN MORE:
Time Magazine, The secrets of the Teen Brain, May 10 th , 2004. At your library of www.time.com (fee may be required).
The Frontline video Inside the Teenage Brain is available at http://shoppbs.org (fee is required).
Myth 2: They'll grow out of it, and be okay.
FACT: The younger kids start drinking, the more likely they are to become addicted.
Studies show that a person who starts drinking before age 15 is four times more likely to develop alcoholism than someone who delays drinking until age 21. That means that the longer you can postpone the age of first use, the safer your child is likely to be. Unfortunately, for some kids, binge drinking begins in middle school.
Inhalants A Deadly Experiment
 Tell kids that inhalants can cause permanent brain damage or death, even on the first use. Supervise the use of household, shop and art products.
Teach kids to read labels and treat inhalants as poisons.
ACT: Tell your kids that drinking when they're young can make them more likely to be dependent on alcohol later.
TO LEARN MORE:
Keeping Youth Drug Free, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. DHHS Publication No. (SMA)-3772. Comprehensive, practical advice about how to talk to your kids.
Myth 3: We live in the suburbs. Drugs are a city problem
FACT: In Massachusetts, urban and suburban youth use drugs in about the same numbers.
The three ingredients needed for drug use are money, cell phones and cars.
Youth Risk Behavior Survey of a freshman class at a Massachusetts suburban high school:
Used alcohol in the last month ..................................................................... 32%
Participated in binge drinking over the past month ................................... 14%
Used marijuana in the last month ................................................................ 18%
Had drugs offered or sold to them at school .............................................. 38%
ACT: If your child takes Ritalin, Adderall, or another drug that could be abused, monitor its use. Don't let kids take prescription bottles to school. You or the school nurse should administer any medications that could be abused.
Myth 4: I'm teaching them to drink responsibly.
FACT: Alcohol can damage the developing teenage brain.
Somewhere between sophomore and junior year, when a parent finds out that a kid has been drinking they think, Well, it's too late to stop them. I'll teach them how to drink responsibly. They can drink at our house where it's safe.' That's ridiculous. -Substance Abuse Counselor
Youth who drink alcohol at home may not understand how dangerous it can be. Dr. Susan Tapert and colleagues at the University of California San Diego used MRIs to compare the brains of 15- and 16-year-olds who drank heavily with teens who had no history of alcohol abuse.
ACT: Don't serve alcohol to minors under 21-years old.
TO LEARN MORE:
Choose to Keep Your Freedom and Don't Give Kids Alcohol, brochures for youth and parents about the legal implications of serving alcohol to minors, developed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and collaborators. Available through the Massachusetts Health Promotion Clearinghouse, at 1-800-952-6637.
Myth 5: I can't stop my kids from doing the same things I did at their age
FACT: Yes you can. Here's why you should.
Teenagers who drink are far more likely to drive drunk, have sex, fight and experiment with other drugs. When you were a kid, risks were associated with drinking. Maybe a classmate, friend or relative was injured or killed in a drunk-driving accident. Now we know even more about the risks. In Massachusetts in 2003, 28 percent of teens said that in the past month they had ridden in a car with a driver who had been drinking. Many teens don't realize that you cannot sober up after a night of drinking.
Teens today face risks like AIDS and exposure to a wide range of prescription drugs that may not have been present when you were their age. When combined with alcohol, these drugs can have deadly consequences.
For a teen, drinking three beers is the equivalent of an adult of the same weight drinking a six-pack!
Teens who drink and cause harm are still held responsible. Drinking is not an excuse and does not change the consequences of a bad decision.
Teens who drink have higher rates of:
fighting
riding with a drunk driver
carrying a weapon
attempting suicide
engaging in risky sexual behavior
using other illegal drugs
being victims of sexual assault (females)
ACT: If asked about your past, tell the truth. Don't go into detail. You can say:
When I was younger, we didn't know what we do now about the harmful effects of marijuana or alcohol. I stopped because I realized how harmful it was and because it was illegal. What I am worried about now is you and your safety.
Myth 6: Weed isn't that harmful.?
FACT: Marijuana use causes memory problems, decreases motivation and increases the risk of developing a serious mental illness.
Parents who used marijuana may find it hard to set ground rules for their children about marijuana, but a lot has changed over the last 10 to 20 years. Marijuana today is far more potent than it was even ten years ago, and new studies from around the world show marijuana use can lead to serious mental, emotional and social problems.
Marijuana use is known to:
be addictive
decrease motivation
be a factor in serious car accidents
impair short-term memory, perception and motor skills
trigger psychotic episodes
cause depression and anxiety in regular users
increase the risk of schizophrenia, a serious mental illness
be associated with the use of hard drugs
ACT: If you've used marijuana, don't deny it. If asked you can say:
TO LEARN MORE:
• Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know, National Institutes of Health NIH publication number 02-4036
Myth 7: If I set limits, my kids won't be popular.?
FACT: Kids whose parents are involved in their lives are less likely to use alcohol and other drugs.
We want our kids to be popular and to fit ink but keeping kids safe is more important. It's true that many parents don't set limits, but there are many who do. It's not too late to start.
How to set limits:
Remind your teen that many kids aren't using alcohol or other drugs.
State the rules, explain the consequences and follow through.
Catch your teenager ?being good.? Reward him for keeping the rules, for achievements and for contributing to the family and the community.
Keep discussing why alcohol and drugs are not allowed.
ACT: How to stand your ground:
Common teen defenses |
and what you can say |
That's not fair. You're the only parent who won't let me |
I am sorry you feel that way but that is the rule in this house. |
I didn't know |
You do now. |
I was holding it for a friend |
You're still responsible. |
It was my first time |
Bad things can happen the first time. |
That teacher/person in charge is out to get me |
That is irrelevant. |
Don't you trust me? |
My trust meter is low right now. Here's what you can do to raise it. |
If you're worried about yourself, a friend or family member who may be using drugs call anonymously (800) 327-5050 or visit http://www.helpline-online.com. The Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline is available 24 hours a day for information and treatment options.
Share this information with people you care about.
Stay informed, stay healthy.
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