Spring Break and the Brain: Post #7 - What's Up Parents?

In the area of alcohol prevention, like so many other issues our youth are dealing with, open communication with parents is key.  Most alcohol prevention programs list talking to your kids as an important conversation that can make a difference in whether or not your kid drinks. 

Beyond education around the risks associated with drinking, there is a movement against parents providing alcohol and/or partying with their sons and daughters.  I've never gotten why parents think they can better monitor their kids alcohol use if they are drinking it in front of them.  Do they really think their kid is ONLY going to drink in their presence?  Check out We Don't Serve Teens.

Some great and simple tools for parents are:

1. Brochures from the Office of National Drug Control Policy = "Keeping Your Teens Drug-Free: A Family Guide" or "Keeping Your Teens Drug Free - A Guide for African American Parents & Caregivers"
2. Parents - The Anti-Drug brochure "Suspect your Teen is Using Drugs or Drinking?" 
3. Family Alcohol Contract by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
4. Brochures from The Partnership for a Drug-Free America
5. Curriculum for parents from Leadership To Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation.
6. In addition, most of the national organizations have information for parents and adults who want to help their teens stop using.

Recommended resources for teens are: (1) Above the Influence  [National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign] or (2 The Cool Spot website  [National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism].  There are many more sites out their for you to explore.