The Battle Against Underage Drinking..... Tips for Parent..... Contact www.mindzone.in

The Battle Against Underage Drinking

Before we get into specific tips, tricks, and strategies to help fight underage drinking, let's take a look at the problem:

• In 2013, around 8.7 million young people (between the ages of 12 and 20) reported drinking in the past month
• In the same year, around 5.4 million young people identified as binge drinkers
• Around 700,000 young people struggled with an alcohol use disorder in 2013 (that's 2.8% of this entire age group)
• Only around 70,000 received treatment

Those are some stark numbers. Things get even worse when you move to the 18 and up age range:

• 16.6 million people over the age of 18 struggled with an alcohol use disorder in 2013 (that's 7% percent of this entire age group)
• Only around 1 million people received treatment

Tips & Tricks for Parents

The first thing to remember is that while underage drinking's dangerous on many different levels, it isn't a death sentence. In fact, many teens don't drink at all.
If you think your child's drinking, the first thing to do is talk to them. We've complied a list of helpful resources below, the first two of which are focused on talking to teens about drinking.
When talking with your child, remember the following:

• Don't lecture - no one likes to be lectured to, especially teenagers.
• Explain the dangers of underage drinking with specific examples. In other words, don't say "drinking is bad," rather explain how drinking sometimes leads to drinking and driving.
• Avoid getting angry. Anger can easily turn a conversation into an argument, which helps nobody.
• Be honest! If you drank as a teen, tell your kid that! Honesty goes a long way in establishing trust.
• Ask questions. While your child may not answer honestly, it's important to show them you're interested & willing to listen.
• Continue the conversation. It's uncomfortable to talk to your kids about the dangers of underage drinking - don't let that stop you! Remember to keep the conversation going & talk more than once
• It's also important to remember there are many reasons why teens drink. While it's tempting to blame peer pressure or another child's "bad influence," this isn't always the case. Ask them why they're drinking, or thinking about drinking, to get the truth.
  Having an open and honest conversation is a great way to begin the dialogue with your child. This isn't the only strategy though. There are other ideas to consider, including:
• Seeking professional help from a family therapist, treatment center, or other substance abuse professional.
• Working with the PTA or another school-based program to come up with alternatives to drinking.
• Offering alcohol-free social events (this doesn't mean throwing a party & hanging out with your kids at it - no one wants that - rather, let your kids & their friends know they can hang out at your house without alcohol).