Home with the family for the month of April: what better time to start conversations about underage drinking and drugs?

by | Apr 2, 2020


April is National Alcohol Awareness Month. This is a time that the nation takes a look at alcohol use rates, and how we can all help underage drinking rates to continue to lower.

Alcohol is the most used substance by American youth. In Kennebec County, 35% of youth stated that they had had five or more drinks in the past month, 58% of youth stated that alcohol is easy to get, and 46% of youth stated that they would not get caught. Given that many families have been home for two weeks and now are home for the month of April, this is a great time to:

  • Talk about alcohol
  • Make sure alcohol is safely stored and monitored
  • Have an open line of communication and lower the risk of youth drinking

Here are 5 conversation goals provided by SAMSHA:

Research suggests that one of the most important factors in healthy child development is a strong, open relationship with a parent. It is important to start talking to your children about alcohol and other drugs before they are exposed to them—as early as 9 years old.

  1. Show you disapprove of underage drinking and other drug misuse.
    Over 80 percent of young people ages 10–18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink. Send a clear and strong message that you disapprove of underage drinking and use or misuse of other drugs.
  2. Show you care about your child’s health, wellness, and success.
    Young people are more likely to listen when they know you’re on their side. Reinforce why you don’t want your child to drink or use other drugs—because you want your child to be happy and safe. The conversation will go a lot better if you’re open and you show concern.
  3. Show you’re a good source of information about alcohol and other drugs.
    You want your child to make informed decisions about alcohol and other drugs with reliable information about its dangers. You don’t want your child to learn about alcohol and other drugs from unreliable sources. Establish yourself as a trustworthy source of information.
  4. Show you’re paying attention and you’ll discourage risky behaviors.
    Show you’re aware of what your child is up to, as young people are more likely to drink or use other drugs if they think no one will notice. Do this in a subtle way, without prying.
  5. Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding drinking and drug use.
    Even if you don’t think your child wants to drink or try other drugs, peer pressure is a powerful thing. Having a plan to avoid alcohol and drug use can help children make better choices. Talk with your child about what they would do if faced with a decision about alcohol and drugs, such as texting a code word to a family member or practicing how they’ll say “no thanks.” Keep it low-key. Don’t worry, you don’t have to get everything across in one talk. Plan to have many short talks.

Learn more with these resources:


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