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Kids
who drink are more likely to be victims of violent crime,
to be involved in alcohol-related traffic crashes, and to
have serious school-related problems.
You have
more influence on your childs values and decisions about
drinking before he or she begins to use alcohol.
Parents
can have a major impact on their childrens drinking,
especially during the preteen and early teen years.
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With so many
drugs available to young people these days, you may wonder, Why
develop a booklet about helping kids avoid alcohol? Alcohol
is a drug, as surely as cocaine and marijuana are. Its
also illegal to drink under the age of 21. And its dangerous.
Kids who drink are more likely to:
- Be victims
of violent crime.
- Have serious
problems in school.
- Be involved
in drinking-related traffic crashes.
This guide
is geared to parents and guardians of young people ages 10 to 14.
Keep in mind that the suggestions on the following pages are just
thatsuggestions. Trust your instincts. Choose ideas
you are comfortable with, and use your own style in carrying out
the approaches you find useful. Your child looks to you for guidance
and support in making life decisionsincluding the decision
not to use alcohol.
But
my child isnt drinking yet, you may think. Isnt
it a little early to be concerned about drinking? Not at all.
This is the age at which some children begin experimenting with
alcohol. Even if your child is not yet drinking, he or she may be
receiving pressure to drink. Act now. Keeping quiet about
how you feel about your childs alcohol use may give him or
her the impression that alcohol use is OK for kids.
Its
not easy. As children approach adolescence, friends exert a
lot of influence. Fitting in is a chief priority for teens, and
parents often feel shoved aside. Kids will listen, however.
Study after study shows that even during the teen years, parents
have enormous influence on their childrens behavior.
The bottom
line is that most young teens dont yet drink. And parents
disapproval of youthful alcohol use is the key reason children choose
not to drink. So make no mistake: You can make a difference.
(Note:
This booklet uses a variety of terms to refer to young people ages
10 to 14, including youngsters, children, kids, and young teens.)
YOUNG
TEENS AND ALCOHOL: THE RISKS
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For young
people, alcohol is the number one drug of choice. In fact, teens
use alcohol more frequently and heavily than all other illicit drugs
combined. Although most children under age 14 have not yet
begun to drink, early adolescence is a time of special risk for
beginning to experiment with alcohol.
While some
parents and guardians may feel relieved that their teen is only
drinking, it is important to remember that alcohol is a powerful,
mood-altering drug. Not only does alcohol affect the mind and body
in often unpredictable ways, but teens lack the judgment and coping
skills to handle alcohol wisely. As a result:
-
Alcohol-related
traffic crashes are a major cause of death among teens. Alcohol
use also is linked with youthful deaths by drowning, suicide,
and homicide.
-
Teens
who use alcohol are more likely to become sexually active at
earlier ages, to have sexual intercourse more often, and to
have unprotected sex than teens who do not drink.
-
Young
people who drink are more likely than others to be victims of
violent crime, including rape, aggravated assault, and robbery.
-
Teens
who drink are more likely to have problems with school work
and school conduct.
-
An individual
who begins drinking as a young teen is four times more likely
to develop alcohol dependence than someone who waits until adulthood
to use alcohol.
The message
is clear: Alcohol use is very risky business for young people.
And the longer children delay alcohol use, the less likely they
are to develop any problems associated with it. Thats why
it is so important to help your child avoid any alcohol use.
Early adolescence
is a time of enormous and often confusing changes for your child,
which makes it a challenging time for both your youngster and you.
Being tuned in to what its like to be a teen can help you
stay closer to your child and have more influence on the choices
he or she makesincluding decisions about using alcohol.
Physical
Changes. Most 10- to 14-year-olds experience rapid increases
in height and weight as well as the beginnings of sexual development.
As a result, many kids feel more self-conscious about their bodies
than they did when they were younger and begin to question whether
they are good enoughtall enough, slender enough,
strong enough, attractive enoughcompared with others. A young
teen who feels he or she doesnt measure up in some way is
more likely to do things to try to please friends, including experimenting
with alcohol. During this vulnerable time, it is particularly important
to let your children know that in your eyes, they do measure upand
that you care about them deeply.
Thinking
Skills. Most young teens are still very now oriented
and are just beginning to understand that their actionssuch
as drinkinghave consequences. They also tend to believe that
bad things wont happen to them, which helps to explain why
they often take risks. Therefore, it is very important for adults
to invest time in helping kids understand how and why alcohol-related
risks do apply to them.
Social
and Emotional Changes. As children approach adolescence, friends
and fitting in become extremely important. Young teens
increasingly look to friends and the media for clues on how to behave
and begin to question adults values and rules. Given these
normal developments, it is perhaps not surprising that parents often
experience conflict with their kids as they go through early adolescence.
During this sometimes stormy time, perhaps your toughest challenge
is to try to respect your childs growing drive for independence
while still providing support and appropriate limits.
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DID YOU KNOW?
That
according to a national survey, one in five eighth graders
reports drinking alcohol within the past month?
That
17 percent of eighth graders say they have gotten drunk at
least once in the past year?
That
71 percent of young teens say that alcohol is easy to get?
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THE
BOTTOM LINE:
A STRONG PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP
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You may wonder
why a guide to preventing teen alcohol use is putting so much emphasis
on parents need to understand and support their children.
But the fact is, the best way to influence your child to avoid drinking
is to have a strong, trusting relationship with him or her. Research
shows that teens are much more likely to delay drinking when they
feel they have a close, supportive tie with a parent or guardian.
Moreover, if your son or daughter eventually does begin to drink,
a good relationship with you will help protect him or her from developing
alcohol-related problems.
The opposite
is also true: When the relationship between a parent and teen is
full of conflict or is very distant, the teen is more likely to
use alcohol and to develop drinking-related problems. This connection
between the parent-child relationship and a childs drinking
habits makes a lot of sense when you think about it. First, when
children have a strong bond with a parent, they are apt to feel
good about themselves and therefore be less likely to cave in to
peer pressure to use alcohol. Second, a good relationship with you
is likely to influence your children to try to live up to your expectations,
because they want to maintain their close tie with you. Here are
some ways to build a strong, supportive bond with your child:
-
Establish
open communication. Make it easy for your teen to talk honestly
with you. (See box Tips for Communicating With Your Teen.)
-
Show you
care. Even though young teens may not always show it, they still
need to know they are important to their parents. Make it a
point to regularly spend one-on-one time with your childtime
when you can give him or her your loving, undivided attention.
Some activities to share: a walk, a bike ride, a quiet dinner
out, or a cookie-baking session.
-
Draw the
line. Set clear, realistic expectations for your childs
behavior. Establish appropriate consequences for breaking rules
and consistently enforce them.
-
Offer
acceptance. Make sure your teen knows that you appreciate his
or her efforts as well as accomplishments. Avoid hurtful teasing
or criticism.
-
Understand
that your child is growing up. This doesnt mean a hands-off
attitude. But as you guide your childs behavior, also
make an effort to respect his or her growing need for independence
and privacy.
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Good Reasons
for Teens Not to Drink
You want
your child to avoid alcohol.
You want
your child to maintain self-respect.
You want
them to know drinking is illegal.
Drinking
at their age can be dangerous.
You may
have a family history of alcoholism.
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Tips for Communicating
With Your Teen
Developing
open, trusting communication between you and your child is
essential to helping your child avoid alcohol use. If your
child feels comfortable talking openly with you, youll
have a greater chance of guiding him or her toward healthy
decisionmaking. Some ways to begin:
Encourage
conversation. Encourage your child to talk about whatever
interests him or her. Listen without interruption and give
your child a chance to teach you something new. Your active
listening to your childs enthusiasms paves the way
for conversations about topics that concern you.
Ask
open-ended questions. Encourage your teen to tell you how
he or she thinks and feels about the issue youre discussing.
Avoid questions that have a simple yes or no
answer.
Control
your emotions. If you hear something you dont like,
try not to respond with anger. Instead, take a few deep
breaths and acknowledge your feelings in a constructive
way.
Make
every conversation a win-win experience. Dont
lecture or try to score points on your teen
by showing how he or she is wrong. If you show respect for
your childs viewpoint, he or she will be more likely
to listen to and respect yours.
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TALKING
WITH YOUR TEEN ABOUT ALCOHOL
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For many parents,
bringing up the subject of alcohol is no easy matter. Your young
teen may try to dodge the discussion, and you yourself may feel
unsure about how to proceed. To boost your chances for a productive
conversation, take some time to think through the issues you want
to discuss before you talk with your child. Also, think about
how your child might react and ways you might respond to your youngsters
questions and feelings. Then choose a time to talk when both you
and your child have some down time and are feeling relaxed.
Keep in mind,
too, that you dont need to cover everything at once. In fact,
youre likely to have a greater impact on your childs
drinking by having a number of talks about alcohol use throughout
his or her adolescence. Think of this discussion with your child
as the first part of an ongoing conversation.
And remember,
do make it a conversation, not a lecture! Following are some topics
for discussion:
Your Childs
Views About Alcohol. Ask your young teen what he or she knows
about alcohol and what he or she thinks about teen drinking. Ask
your child why he or she thinks kids drink. Listen carefully without
interrupting. Not only will this approach help your child to feel
heard and respected, but it can serve as a natural lead-in
to discussing alcohol topics.
Important
Facts About Alcohol. Although many kids believe they already
know everything about alcohol, myths and misinformation abound.
Here are some important facts to share:
-
Alcohol
is a powerful drug that slows down the body and mind. It impairs
coordination; slows reaction time; and impairs vision, clear
thinking, and judgment.
-
Beer and
wine are not safer than hard liquor. A 12-ounce
can of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, and 1.5 ounces of hard
liquor all contain the same amount of alcohol and have the same
effects on the body and mind.
-
On average,
it takes 2 to 3 hours for a single drink to leave the bodys
system. Nothing can speed up this process, including drinking
coffee, taking a cold shower, or walking it off.
-
People
tend to be very bad at judging how seriously alcohol has affected
them. That means many individuals who drive after drinking think
they can control a carbut actually cannot.
- Anyone
can develop a serious alcohol problem, including a teenager.
The Magic
Potion Myth. The medias glamorous portrayal of alcohol
encourages many teens to believe that drinking will make them popular,
attractive, happy, and cool. Research shows that teens
who expect such positive effects are more likely to drink at early
ages. However, you can help to combat these dangerous myths by watching
TV shows and movie videos with your child and discussing how alcohol
is portrayed in them. For example, television advertisements for
beer often show young people having an uproariously good time, as
though drinking always puts people in a terrific mood. Watching
such a commercial with your child can be an opportunity to discuss
the many ways that alcohol can affect peoplein some cases
bringing on feelings of sadness or anger rather than carefree high
spirits.
Good Reasons
Not to Drink. In talking with your child about reasons to avoid
alcohol, stay away from scare tactics. Most young teens are aware
that many people drink without problems, so it is important to discuss
the consequences of alcohol use without overstating the case. For
example, you can talk about the dangers of riding in a car with
a driver who has been drinking without insisting that all
kids who ride with drinkers get into crashes. Some good reasons
that teens shouldnt drink:
-
You
want your child to avoid alcohol. Be sure to clearly state
your own expectations regarding your childs drinking and
to establish consequences for breaking rules. Your values and
attitudes count with your child, even though he or she may not
always show it.
-
To
maintain self-respect. In a series of focus groups, teens
reported that the best way to persuade them to avoid alcohol
is to appeal to their self-respectletting them know that
they are too smart and have too much going for them to need
the crutch of alcohol. Teens also pay attention to ways in which
alcohol might cause them to do something embarrassing that might
damage their self-respect and important relationships.
-
Drinking
is illegal. Because alcohol use under the age of 21 is illegal,
getting caught may mean trouble with the authorities. Even if
getting caught doesnt lead to police action, the parents
of your childs friends may no longer permit them to associate
with your child. If drinking occurs on school grounds, your
child could be suspended.
-
Drinking
can be dangerous. One of the leading causes of teen deaths
is motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol. Drinking also makes
a young person more vulnerable to sexual assault and unprotected
sex. And while your teen may believe he or she wouldnt
engage in hazardous activities after drinking, point out that
because alcohol impairs judgment, a drinker is very likely to
think such activities wont be dangerous.
- You
have a family history of alcoholism. If one or more members
of your immediate or extended family has suffered from alcoholism,
your child may be somewhat more vulnerable to developing a drinking
problem. Your child needs to know that for him or her, drinking
may carry special risks.
How to
Handle Peer Pressure. Its not enough to tell your young
teen that he or she should avoid alcoholyou also need to help
your child figure out how. What can your daughter say when she goes
to a party and a friend offers her a beer? (See Six Ways to
Say No to a Drink.) Or what should your son do if he finds
himself in a home where kids are passing around a bottle of wine
and parents are nowhere in sight? What should their response be
if they are offered a ride home with an older friend who has been
drinking?
Brainstorm
with your teen for ways that he or she might handle these and other
difficult situations, and make clear how you are willing to support
your child. An example: If you find yourself at a home where
kids are drinking, call me and Ill pick you upand there
will be no scolding or punishment. The more prepared your
child is, the better able he or she will be to handle high-pressure
situations that involve drinking.
SIX WAYS TO
SAY NO TO A DRINK
At some
point, your child will be offered alcohol. To resist such
pressure, teens say they prefer quick one-liners
that allow them to dodge a drink without making a big scene.
It will probably work best for your teen to take the lead
in thinking up comebacks to drink offers so that he or she
will feel comfortable saying them. But to get the brainstorming
started, here are some simple pressure-bustersfrom the
mildest to the most assertive.
1
No thanks.
2
I dont feel like itdo you have any soda?
3
Alcohols NOT my thing.
4
Are you talking to me? FORGET it.
5
Why do you keep pressuring me when Ive said NO?
6
Back off!
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Mom, Dad,
Did You Drink When You Were a Kid?
This is the
question many parents dreadyet it is highly likely to come
up in any family discussion of alcohol. The reality is that many
parents did drink before they were old enough to legally do so.
So how can one be honest with a child without sounding like a hypocrite
who advises, Do as I say, not as I did?
This is a
judgment call. If you believe that your drinking or drug use history
should not be part of the discussion, you can simply tell your child
that you choose not to share it. Another approach is to admit that
you did do some drinking as a teenager, but that it was a mistakeand
give your teen an example of an embarrassing or painful moment that
occurred because of your drinking. This approach may help your child
better understand that youthful alcohol use does have negative consequences.
HOW
TO HOST A TEEN PARTY
Agree
on a guest listand dont admit party crashers.
Discuss
ground rules with your child before the party.
Encourage
your teen to plan the party with a responsible friend so that
he or she will have support if problems arise.
Brainstorm
fun activities for the party.
If a
guest brings alcohol into your house, ask him or her to leave.
Serve
plenty of snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.
Be visible
and availablebut dont join the party!
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TAKING
ACTION: PREVENTION STRATEGIES
FOR PARENTS
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While parent-child
conversations about drinking are essential, talking isnt enoughyou
also need to take concrete action to help your child resist alcohol.
Research strongly shows that active, supportive involvement by parents
and guardians can help teens avoid underage drinking and prevent
later alcohol misuse.
In a recent
national survey, 71 percent of eighth graders said alcohol was fairly
easy or very easy to get. The message is clear:
Young teens still need plenty of adult supervision. Some ways to
provide it:
Monitor
Alcohol Use in Your Home. If you keep alcohol in your home,
keep track of the supply. Make clear to your child that you dont
allow unchaperoned parties or other teen gatherings in your home.
If possible, however, encourage him or her to invite friends over
when you are at home. The more entertaining your child does in your
home, the more you will know about your childs friends and
activities.
Connect
With Other Parents. Getting to know other parents and guardians
can help you keep closer tabs on your child. Friendly relations
can make it easier for you to call the parent of a teen who is having
a party to be sure that a responsible adult will be present and
that alcohol will not be available. Youre likely to find out
that youre not the only adult who wants to prevent teen alcohol
usemany other parents share your concern.
Keep Track
of Your Childs Activities. Be aware of your teens
plans and whereabouts. Generally, your child will be more open to
your supervision if he or she feels you are keeping tabs because
you care, not because you distrust him or her.
Develop
Family Rules About Teen Drinking. When parents establish clear
no alcohol rules and expectations, their children are
less likely to begin drinking. While each family should develop
agreements about teen alcohol use that reflect their own beliefs
and values, some possible family rules about drinking are:
-
Kids will
not drink alcohol until they are 21.
-
Older
siblings will not encourage younger brothers or sisters to drink
and will not give them alcohol.
-
Kids will
not stay at teen parties where alcohol is served.
-
Kids will
not ride in a car with a driver who has been drinking.
Once you have
chosen rules for your family, you will need to establish appropriate
consequences for breaking those rules. Be sure to choose a penalty
that you are willing to carry out. Also, dont make the consequences
so harsh that they become a barrier to open communication between
you and your teen. The idea is to make the penalty sting
just enough to make your child think twice about breaking the rule.
A possible consequence might be temporary restrictions on your childs
socializing.
Finally, you
must be prepared to consistently enforce the consequences you have
established. If your children know that they will lose certain privileges
each and every time an alcohol use rule is broken, they will be
more likely to keep their agreements.
Set a Good
Example. Parents and guardians are important role models for
their childreneven children who are fast becoming teenagers.
Studies indicate that if a parent uses alcohol, his or her children
are more likely to drink themselves. But even if you use alcohol,
there may be ways to lessen the likelihood that your child will
drink. Some suggestions:
-
Use alcohol
moderately.
-
Dont
communicate to your child that alcohol is a good way to handle
problems. For example, dont come home from work and say,
I had a rotten day. I need a drink.
-
Instead,
let your child see that you have other, healthier ways to cope
with stress, such as exercise; listening to music; or talking
things over with your spouse, partner, or friend.
-
Dont
tell your kids stories about your own drinking in a way that
conveys the message that alcohol use is funny or glamorous.
-
Never
drink and drive or ride in a car with a driver who has been
drinking.
- When you
entertain other adults, make available alcohol-free beverages
and plenty of food. If anyone drinks too much at your party, make
arrangements for them to get home safely.
Dont
Support Teen Drinking. Your attitudes and behavior toward teen
drinking also influence your child. Avoid making jokes about underage
drinking or drunkenness, or otherwise showing acceptance of teen
alcohol use. In addition, never serve alcohol to your childs
underage friends. Research shows that kids whose parents or friends
parents provide alcohol for teen get-togethers are more likely to
engage in heavier drinking, to drink more often, and to get into
traffic crashes. Remember, too, that it is illegal in most states
to provide alcohol to minors who are not family members.
You can also
join school and community efforts to discourage alcohol use by teens.
By working with school officials and other members of your community,
you can help to develop policies to reduce alcohol availability
to teens and to enforce consequences for underage drinking.
Help Your
Child Build Healthy Friendships. If your childs friends
use alcohol, your child is more likely to drink too. So it makes
sense to try to encourage your young teen to develop friendships
with kids who do not drink and who are otherwise healthy influences
on your child. A good first step is to simply get to know your childs
friends better. You can then invite the kids you feel good about
to family get-togethers and outings and find other ways to encourage
your child to spend time with those teens. Also, talk directly with
your youngster about the qualities in a friend that really count,
such as trustworthiness and kindness, rather than popularity or
a cool style.
When you disapprove
of one of your childs friends, the situation can be tougher
to handle. While it may be tempting to simply forbid your child
to see that friend, such a move may make your child even more determined
to hang out with him or her. Instead, you might try pointing out
your reservations about the friend in a caring, supportive way.
You can also limit your childs time with that friend through
your family rules, such as how after-school time can be spent or
how late your child can stay out in the evening.
Encourage
Healthy Alternatives to Alcohol. One reason kids drink is to
beat boredom. Therefore, it makes sense to encourage your child
to participate in supervised after-school and weekend activities
that are challenging and fun. According to a recent survey of preteens,
the availability of enjoyable, alcohol-free activities is a big
reason for deciding not to use alcohol.
If your community
doesnt offer many supervised activities, consider getting
together with other parents and young teens to help create some.
Start by asking your child and other kids what they want to do,
since they will be most likely to participate in activities that
truly interest them. Find out whether your church, school, or community
organization can help you sponsor a project.
COULD
YOUR CHILD DEVELOP
A DRINKING PROBLEM?
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While this
booklet is mainly concerned with preventing teen alcohol use, we
also need to pay attention to the possibility of youthful alcohol
abuse. Certain children are more likely than others to drink heavily
and encounter alcohol-related difficulties, including health, school,
legal, family, and emotional problems. Kids at highest risk for
alcohol-related problems are those who:
-
Begin
using alcohol or other drugs before the age of 15.
-
Have
a parent who is a problem drinker or an alcoholic.
-
Have
close friends who use alcohol and/or other drugs.
-
Have
been aggressive, antisocial, or hard to control from an early
age.
-
Have
experienced childhood abuse and/or other major traumas.
-
Have
current behavioral problems and/or are failing at school.
-
Have
parents who do not support them, do not communicate openly
with them, and do not keep track of their behavior or whereabouts.
-
Experience
ongoing hostility or rejection from parents and/or harsh,
inconsistent discipline.
The more
of these experiences a child has had, the greater the chances
that he or she will develop problems with alcohol. Having one
or more risk factors does not mean that your child definitely
will develop a drinking problem. It does suggest, however, that
you may need to act now to help protect your youngster from later
problems. For example, if you have not been openly communicating
with your child, it will be important to develop new ways of talking
and listening to each other (see box Tips for Communicating
With Your Teen). Or, if your child has serious behavioral
difficulties, you may want to seek help from your childs
school counselor, physician, and/or a mental health professional.
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Some parents
may suspect that their child already has a drinking problem. While
it can be hard to know for sure, certain behaviors can alert you
to the possibility of an alcohol problem (see box Warning
Signs of a Drinking Problem). If you think your child may
be in trouble with drinking, consider getting advice from a health
care professional specializing in alcohol problems before talking
with your teen. To find a professional, contact your family doctor
or a local hospital. Other sources of information and guidance may
be found in your local Yellow Pages under Alcoholism
or through one of the resources listed at the end of this booklet.
WARNING SIGNS
OF A DRINKING PROBLEM
While
the following behaviors may indicate an alcohol or other drug
problem, some also reflect normal teenage growing pains. Experts
believe that a drinking problem is more likely if you notice
several of these signs at the same time, if they occur suddenly,
and if some of them are extreme in nature.
Mood
changes: flare-ups of temper, irritability, and defensiveness.
School
problems: poor attendance, low grades, and/or recent disciplinary
action.
Rebelling
against family rules.
Switching
friends, along with a reluctance to have you get
to know the new friends.
A nothing
matters attitude: sloppy appearance, a lack of involvement
in former interests, and general low energy.
Finding
alcohol in your childs room or backpack, or smelling
alcohol on his or her breath.
Physical
or mental problems: memory lapses, poor concentration, bloodshot
eyes, lack of coordination, or slurred speech.
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ACTION CHECKLIST
Establish
a loving, trusting relationship with your child.
Make
it easy for your teen to talk honestly with you.
Talk
with your child about alcohol facts, reasons not to drink,
and ways to avoid drinking in difficult situations.
Keep
tabs on your young teens activities, and join with other
parents in making common policies about teen alcohol use.
Develop
family rules about teen drinking and establish consequences.
Set a
good example regarding your own alcohol use and your response
to teen drinking.
Encourage
your child to develop healthy friendships and
fun alternatives to drinking.
Know
whether your child is at high risk for a drinking problem;
if so, take steps to lessen that risk.
Know
the warning signs of a teen drinking problem and
act promptly to get help for your child.
Believe
in your own power to help your child avoid
alcohol use.
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Join Together
One Appleton Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 437-1500
Internet address: http://www.jointogether.org
A national
resource center for communities who are working to prevent alcohol
and other drug abuse across the nation.
National
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
20 Exchange Place, Suite 2902
New York, NY 10005
(800) NCA-CALL
Internet address: http://www.ncadd.org
Provides educational
materials on alcohol abuse and alcoholism as well as phone numbers
of local NCADD affiliates who can provide information on local treatment
resources.
National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Scientific Communications Branch
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9304
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
(301) 443-3860
Internet address: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov
Makes available
free informational materials on many aspects of alcohol use, alcohol
abuse, and alcoholism.
If you are
interested in learning more about alcohol abuse and alcoholism,
NIAAA has produced a number of booklets and other materials targeted
to the public. Those publications include:
Alcoholism:
Getting the Factsdescribes what alcoholism and alcohol
abuse are and offers useful information on when and where to seek
help. English version: NIH Publication Number 964153; Spanish version:
NIH Publication Number 994153S.
Alcohol:
What You Dont Know Can Harm Youprovides information
on drinking and driving, alcohol-medication interactions, interpersonal
problems, alcohol-related birth defects, long-term health problems,
and current research issues. English version: NIH Publication Number
994323; Spanish version: NIH Publication Number 994323-S.
How to
Cut Down on Your Drinkingpresents tips for those who are
acting on medical advice to reduce their alcohol consumption. English
version: NIH Publication Number 963770; Spanish version: NIH Publication
Number 963770S.
Frequently
Asked Questions About Alcoholism and Alcohol Abusepresents
responses to questions concerning alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
English version: NIH Publication Number 014735; Spanish version:
NIH Publication Number 024735S.
To order,
write to: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Publications
Distribution Center, P.O. Box 10686, Rockville, MD 208490686. The
full text of all of the above publications is available on NIAAAs
Web site (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov).
NIH
Publication No. 00-4314
Revised 2002
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