Buzzed Driving Kills the Same as Drunk Driving
by Sue Scheff on Dec 26, 2011
Apparently, Rudolph isn’t the only one with a red nose. 43% of the driving fatalities on Christmas Day are alcohol-related. – Buzzed Driving
Buzzed driving is drunk driving. Getting behind the wheel after even just one too many drinks can lead to disaster.
Many people think that if they just have a few drinks, even two, they are sober enough to operate a vehicle. Maybe they are, but maybe they aren’t. What happens when it is your mother, father, son, daughter, friend that is suddenly no longer with us to celebrate the holidays because someone decided they were sober enough to drive?
Drinking and driving or buzzed driving kills. There is not alternatives – there is no turning back. Distracted driving is just as serious, and you are kidding yourself if you think differently.
Put down the cell phone, the text can wait, and you can enjoy a party as long as you remember to sober up before getting in your car. Don’t become a statistic this holiday season.
Take the pledge: I’m going to be smart; I won’t drive while buzzed.
Join Buzzed Driving on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for updated statistics.
Also follow MADD Online for important information on drinking and driving, especially when it comes to our teens. You can also join them on Facebook.
Tags: Buzzed Driving, Drinking and Driving, Drunk Driving, DUI, DWI, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Teens, Teen Drinking, Teen Help, Teen Issues, Underage Drinking
P.R.O.M. is a Four Letter Word: What Does it Mean to You?
by Sue Scheff on Apr 25, 2011
The event of prom is no small matter, endless movies have been crafted around this big dance– can we say “Footloose” without our toes tapping?
With nostalgia comes temptation, not only for teens, but parents. Local St. Johns County parents with seniors graduating this year may remember when the legal drinking age was 18. Coupled with memories of your own senior prom, well meaning, otherwise logical parents may be tempted to relax an otherwise firm “no alcohol” policy for this special event.
Let’s talk you off the ledge and back into your parent pants.
P is for planning. Seniors want to have a good time at prom. Regrettably, they’ve grown up in a media culture that has shown them images of good times being had with alcohol, and alcohol only. The best way to mediate this attitude is to literally plan for a goodtime. What happens before prom and after prom are often more important than the prom. Contrary to popular belief, teens are not wired to drink; they’re wired for fun and risky behavior. Pool parties, slip and slides with bubbles, scavenger hunts and other types of crazy and somewhat goofy activities make memorable events. If you’re not planning for fun, they’ll find it on their own.
R is for respect. Most teens don’t respect parents who provide alcohol to minors and the largest portion of alcohol to minors comes from a small percentage of parents. The adage “their going to do it anyway” is a slippery slope for parents trying to convince themselves they’re doing the right thing by providing alcohol. There are many things teens “might” do when given the opportunity – sex, drugs, speed, steal, lie – at the end of the day, we’re obligated to provide the framework for good decisions, not try to mediate potential bad ones.
O is for omnipresent. Defined as, “present everywhere”, our teens once believed we were omnipresent. No matter where they were, or what they were doing, we somehow knew or found out everything. As they get older, carry more responsibility, and prove themselves worthy, we loosen our omnipresent grip. Consider however, that a teen’s brain is rapidly developing until about 21 to 22 years of age. Their decision making still has very much to do with two things – 1) what is everyone else doing? and 2) will I get caught? A healthy dose of omnipresence before big events such as prom reminds your teen that you still care enough to check up on them and gives them a powerful out should they face an overdose of peer pressure.
M is for memories. Remind teens that the best way to remember prom is to add nothing but fun. Who wants to risk having their head end up in a toilet, have a date that pukes all over them, or be so hung over you can’t make it to the beach the next day? When they send their own teen off to prom, the memory of how you handled their prom, from pictures to rules to curfew will undoubtedly be fresh in their minds. Let’s keep the parent pants on and enjoy prom. Be the wall between teens and alcohol.
Provided by PACT Prevention Coalition of St. Johns County
Visit www.PACTPrevention.org for more information and remember, “Be The Wall!”
Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens!
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Prom is a four letter word – Jacksonville Parenting Teens | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/parenting-teens-in-jacksonville/prom-is-a-four-letter-word#ixzz1KX8pjsCI
Tags: Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Proms, Sue Scheff, Teen Drinking, Underage Drinking
Global Influence Buzzed Driving St. Patrick’s Day Campaign
by Sue Scheff on Mar 09, 2011
Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and it’s not the luck of the Irish that will keep the roads safe – it’s planning ahead for a safe and sober way home.
For many Americans, St. Patrick’s Day has become a popular night out for drinking and celebrating with friends and family. Unfortunately, some of these people might also be driving home from their festivities and therefore, the night out has also become potentially dangerous.
On St. Patrick’s Day 2009, 37 percent of the drivers and motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or above, according to statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Thank you for offering to help spread the word! Global Influence members have been helping to change the world for more than two years, and these messages are among the most important.
Let’s remind everyone about the importance of remembering to:
• Plan ahead and designate a sober driver before you leave for your event.
• Be ready to take alternate transportation such as a bus or taxi. Have the phone number of a taxi service stored in your phone before you leave for the party.
Even if you will not be celebrating this St. Patrick’s Day, keep in mind that in 2009, 1,119 occupants of other vehicles were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers, so pay attention to others on the road. And remember, you don’t have to be “falling down drunk” to be too impaired to drive safely. Even a few drinks can impair driving…and a buzzed driving crash has the same consequences as a drunk driving crash.
NHTSA needs your help in keeping the roads safe for everyone this St. Patrick’s Day by spreading the word that buzzed driving IS drunk driving.
To learn more about the impact buzzed driving can have on a life, please consider posting this article to your Facebook wall. Please follow Buzzed Driving on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Remember: Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving. Don’t rely on dumb luck this St. Patrick’s Day. Plan ahead and ask your loved ones to do the same.
Tags: Buzzed Driving, Drunk Driving, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Sue Scheff, Teen Drinking, Teen Help
Keeping it Safe this New Year’s Eve: Power of Parents
by Sue Scheff on Dec 31, 2010
Yes, parents still do have an influence on their teens.
The day has arrived when many are getting ready to bring in the new year and have plans to do it in their own way. Many include alcohol a way to celebrate, and as although underage drinking is illegal, it is a fact many teens will be drinking.
As a parent, what can you do? Communication is always key, reminding them of the dangers of drinking and driving and the fact that buzzed driving is drunk driving. Parents may want to be in denial that their teen would consume alcohol or other substances that impair them, but remember, never say never. Always be proactive, never stop talking about it.
AAA Auto Club South and Anheuser-Busch, Inc. are joining hands to provide “Tow to Go” to provide a confidential ride home and tow, free of charge, to anyone who may have had too much to drink by calling 1-800-AAA-HELP (4357) in Florida (including Jacksonville) and Georgia. Print this out and give it to a loved one that is going out tonight.
According to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) someone is killed in a drunk driving crash every 50 minutes; someone is injured almost every minute. Join them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
FACT: Drivers 15 to 20 years old have nearly 20-percent more fatal car crashes than any other age group.
Remind your teens:
- “No drinking alcohol.”
- “Buckle up.”
- “Slow down and respect the speed limit.”
- “No phone calls or text messaging.”
- “Here’s how to recognize danger on the road…”
Communication can never stop, even when your teen is tired of hearing of it, never stop. Unfortunately it only takes one tragic accident to wake-up a teenager to realize that drunk driving or buzzed driving can kill and all the lives will be changed forever.
Watch the video.
Happy 2011, end 2010 on a safe and healthy note!
Tags: Above the Influence, Drunk Driving, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Sue Scheff, Teen Drinking, Teen Help
Teen Drinking: Underage Drinking Getting a Pass on Football Days?
by Sue Scheff on Dec 30, 2010
Jacksonville Florida, college football and a few beers.
Sounds great if you are of legal age to drink.
Usually getting caught with a beer while under the legal drinking age in Jacksonville means a trip to the courthouse and leaving with $300 to $400 in fines. However when football or Gator Bowl day or Florida-Georgia day comes around, that same fine is reduced to $75.00.
According to the St. Augustine Record, prosecutors and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office say it’s a necessary evil to prevent overcrowding in the jail and avoid over-penalizing a minor offense that’s committed mostly by out-of-state college students. But some advocates say it sends the wrong message about the consequences for drinking illegally.
Todd Rosenbaum, executive director of MADD Florida, praised Jacksonville’s traditional efforts to combat drunk driving and underage drinking and said he didn’t understand why they would offer a different penalty during the games.
“This is a huge issue, and it’s disappointing not to have the ability to enforce it the same way as they do the rest of the year,” Rosenbaum said. “We would advocate for tougher penalties to include removing the person from the venue, to let everyone know it’s a serious issue.”
Although there are some parents that are believe it is only one day and not a big deal, you will find more parents like Sarah from Ponte Vedra Beach, who believes that MADD has a valid point to show the other kids that underage drinking is not acceptable. “If my 17 year-old son was caught drinking at the game, I would want him to be removed safely. My biggest concern is people driving drunk and many of the kids don’t realize when too much is too much,” says Sarah.
Buzzed driving is drunk driving. If your teen or anyone under the legal age has just a couple of drinks, their driving will be impaired. You are risking not only your child’s life, but the life of thousands of others on the road.
Statistic: This year, 10,839 people will die in drunk-driving crashes – one every 50 minutes. – MADD
Tags: At Risk Teens, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Sue Scheff, Teen Drinking, Teen Help, Teen Issues
Teen Drinking: Are Girls Drinking More?
by Sue Scheff on Oct 22, 2010
Are times changing? Well, that is normal, but whether it is underage girls or boys drinking, it doesn’t make it right. Research is showing a significant increase in use of alcohol by girls ages 12 to 17. The situation may require some special attention and Connect with Kids offers some great advice on this topic. Take a few minutes to become an educated parent – drinking can escalate.
Source: Connect with Kids
Girls Are Drinking More
“I think because of this pressure the girls find that alcohol lessons their inhibition. It also represses their emotion and anxieties and fears about it.”
– Annie Prescott, Ph.D., psychologist
Every October, girls and boys around the country celebrate Red Ribbon Week – and learn about the realities of substance abuse. Until recently it was thought that underage drinkers were mostly boys, but research is showing a significant increase in use of alcohol by girls ages 12 to 17. The situation may require some special attention.
“I think girls drink more,” says Diane, 13.
“I think girls drink more,” says Matt, 16.
“I think teenage girls drink more,” says Chris, 15.
In fact, a growing number of studies show that girls are now drinking more than boys. But why?
“Girls kind of drink more ’cause they try to fit in more, cause they’re so worried about fitting in and everything so yeah,” says Ally, 13.
Experts say there is more pressure on girls than ever before to be good athletes, to get good grades, and, at the same time, be popular, beautiful, and sexy.
“I think because of this pressure the girls find that alcohol lessons their inhibition. It also represses their emotion and anxieties and fears about it,” says Annie Prescott, Ph.D., psychologist.
“They want the guys attention, they want to show them they are cool and stuff,” says Diane.
Experts say teen girls need to be busy with activities that reinforce their worth, their identity separate from alcohol and sex and boys.
“Such as sports and church activities, music, art, dance and activities where there’s some social groups that don’t promote this type of acting out,” says Prescott.
All the while, she says, parents to watch closely.
“I’m talking about being a detective. That you are following up with them, are they actually where they say they’re going to be. So they know that they have to be accountable,” says Prescott.
According to experts at the American Medical Association, the difference in female physiology means that teen girls feel greater impairment from alcohol and encounter alcohol-related problems faster, including brain damage, cancer, cardiac complications, and other medical disorders.
The Partnership for a Drug Free America reports that not only are girls drinking more than boys, but that they turn to drugs and alcohol for more serious reasons. Girls are more likely to associate drugs and alcohol with a way to avoid problems and relieve stress. (Boys, on the other hand, show dramatic increases in seeing drugs and alcohol as social lubricants: a way to make socializing easier and a necessary ingredient for a party.
Teen girls are more likely to be attuned to their feelings and may seek alcohol as a way to self-medicate. Experts site the stress of figuring out gender roles, of doing well in school, and of the larger social and economic realities has led this generation’s teenagers to be more anxious than previous generations.
According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, research shows that when parents talk openly about drugs and drinking, children have better self-control and develop more negative perceptions of these risky behaviors. They suggest the following conversation starters:
For example, parents might say:
- “I’m not trying to ruin your fun. I love you and I want you to stay healthy. The best way to do that is to stay completely away from drugs and alcohol. I need you to promise that you will.”
- “I realize there’s a lot of temptation out there. I also know you’re a really smart, strong person. That’s why I expect you to stay clean — no matter what your friends are doing. Agreed?”
- “There’s a lot of new science about teens, drugs and alcohol. It scares me to know how easily you could damage your brain or get addicted. We want your word that you’ll steer clear of all that, and keep me in the loop on the kids you hang out with, too.”
- Newsweek Article on Teen Drinking
- Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth
- Partnership for a Drug Free America
- Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration Prevention Resources
Tags: At Risk Teens, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Tips, Sue Scheff, Teen Drinking, Teen Help, Teen Issues
Labor Day Weekend Blast: Don’t Drive Drunk or Buzzed! Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
by Sue Scheff on Sep 02, 2010
As another long weekend approaches and many have off from work, plans for parties and end of summer picnics are planned.
Did you know that in 2008, just over the Labor Day holiday weekend, 194 people were killed in crashes involving an impaired driver?
This Labor Day Weekend, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ad Council are trying to remind people to plan ahead and designate a sober driver for any Labor Day celebration because “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.”
Buzzed driving is drunk driving. Getting behind the wheel after even just one too many drinks can lead to disaster. It is critical to be prepared. One of the best ways to be prepared is to know your options for alternative transportation.
Check out the list of sober/safe ride programs across the country. Find one in your area, and save the number in your cell phone so you always have it on you.
Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens! Remember, underage drinking is illegal!
Watch video. You could save a life.
Tags: Buzzed Driving, Drunk Driving, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Sue Scheff, Teen Drinking, Teen Help
Teen Drinking – Teen Drug Use – Parent Help
by Sue Scheff on Aug 22, 2010
Teen Drug Use and Teen Drinking also known as Substance Abuse amongst teens and even children.
With today’s society, kids have access to many different substances that can be addictive and damaging. If you suspect your child is using drugs or drinking alcohol, please seek help for them as soon as possible. Drug testing is helpful, but not always accurate. Teen Drug use and Teen Drinking may escalate to addiction.
Parent’s Universal Resource Experts get calls constantly, that a child is only smoking pot. Unfortunately in most cases, marijuana can lead to more severe drugs, and marijuana is considered an illegal drug. Smoking marijuana is damaging to the child’s body, brain and behavior. Even though marijuana is not considered a narcotic, most teens are very hooked on it. Many teens that are on prescribed medications such as Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera, Concerta, Zoloft, Prozac etc. are more at risk when mixing these medications with street drugs. It is critical you speak with your child about this and learn all the side effects. Educating your child on the potential harm may help them to understand the dangers involved in mixing prescription drugs with street drugs. Awareness is the first step to understanding.
Alcohol is not any different with today’s teens. Like adults, some teens use the substances to escape their problems; however they don’t realize that it is not an escape but rather a deep dark hole. Some teens use substances to “fit in” with the rest of their peers – teen peer pressure. This is when a child really needs to know that they don’t need to “fit in” if it means hurting themselves. Using drug and alcohol is harming them. Especially if a teen is taking prescribed medication (refer to the above paragraph) teen drinking can be harmful. The combination can bring out the worse in a person. Communicating with your teen, as difficult as it can be, is one of the best tools we have. Even if you think they are not listening, we hope eventually they will hear you.
If your teen is experimenting with this, please step in and get proper help through local resources. If it has extended into an addiction, it is probably time for a Residential Placement. If you feel your child is only experimenting, it is wise to start precautions early. An informed parent is an educated parent. This can be your life jacket when and if you need the proper intervention. Always be prepared, it can save you from rash decisions later.
Drugs and Alcoholic usage is definitely a sign that your child needs help. Teen Drug Addiction and Teen Drinking is a serious problem in today’s society; if you suspect your child is using substances, especially if they are on prescribed medications, start seeking local help. If the local resources become exhausted, and you are still experiencing difficulties, it may be time for the next step; Therapeutic Boarding School or Residential Treatment Center.
If you feel your teen is in need of further Boarding School, Residential Therapy or Program Options, please complete our Information Request Form.
Visit www.helpyourteens.com for more information.
Tags: Defiant Teens, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Problem Teens, Rebellious Teens, Teen Drinking, Teen Drug Use, Teen Help, Troubled Teens
Sue Scheff: Girls Gone Wild! But What Happens When it is YOUR DAUGHTER?
by Sue Scheff on Jul 23, 2010
Our favorite Parenting Expert, Dr. Michele Borba wrote about this topic a few weeks ago (read here). Girls are changing! Cliques can be stressful and cause many emotional issues. Mean Girls can be mean! This week Connect with Kids is giving us more evidence we need to take notice to our daughters and what they are doing – who they are hanging out with and what activities they are involved in! School will be open soon – talk to your teens today.
Source: Connect with Kids
Girls’ Attitudes are Changing When it Comes to Drugs
“We used to believe that boys were more likely to use than girls and that there were more boys out there using than girls, and what this study has shown is that the numbers are the same now.”
– Heather Hayes, M.Ed., LPC, addiction counselor
New survey results from the Partnership for a Drug Free America report that girls appear more inclined than ever to reach for drugs and booze to help them emotionally. Some girls say drugs “help you forget your troubles.” Researchers advise parents to be especially attentive to their daughters’ moods and worries.
In fact, in some cases, there are more girls abusing drugs than boys. But the reason for their drug abuse may be very different, and that should make a big difference in how parents handle the problem.
Boys say they use drugs to get a thrill, like 18-year-old Joshua. “It was boring unless I was high. Cause I just didn’t feel right. I was just like – I felt normal, and normal wasn’t cool, it was just boring.”
But girls say they use drugs for very different reasons. Cheri, age 17, explains, “I think for females, it’s just kinda just to fit in…They have low self esteem, or their family life’s not doing good, or someone’s been raped…I think it runs a lot deeper than it does with males.”
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, what once was primarily a male problem has changed. And new research confirms that girls are more likely than ever to reach for drugs and alcohol. The reason, experts say, is that many girls use drugs to deal with stress and anxiety.
“We used to believe that boys were more likely to use than girls and that there were more boys out there using than girls, and what this study has shown is that the numbers are the same now,” explains addiction counselor Heather Hayes. “And with that kind of stress, a lot of what the research has shown is that chronic stress tends to break the dopamine receptors in the brain, setting the person up to be addicted. So, you’ve got the stress there and you pour the chemicals on top and it’s an absolute formula for an addict.”
Experts say if your daughter is stressed out, parents should try to keep the lines of communication open – and help her find productive ways to cope: keeping a journal, exercise, even therapy. And realize that there may be more going on than just a bad crowd.
“I think it’s real easy for parents to say, too, that it is merely because of who my daughters associate with that they’re involved with drugs or alcohol,” says Armando Corpus, Drug Treatment Program Director, “but really it’s a much more basic problem than that. It’s about who my daughter is, and what she’s dealing with.”
What Parents Need To Know
According to the 2009 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study from the Partnership for a Drug Free America, teen girls are more likely to associate “self-medicating” benefits with drinking and getting high. More than two-thirds of teen girls responded positively to the question “using drugs helps kids deal with problems at home” (an 11 percent increase, up from 61 percent in 2008 to 68 percent in 2009) and more than half reported that drugs help teens forget their troubles (a 10 percent increase, up from 48 percent in 2008 to 53 percent in 2009). Stress has been identified as a key factor leading to drinking, smoking and drug use among girls and more than three times as many young girls as boys reported having symptoms of depression in 2008.
What can parents do? Information from the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse and other experts suggest these strategies:
- Keep the lines of communication open. Young females who have a close bond with their parents are less likely to use illegal drugs. These girls also wait longer to start using alcohol.
- Back words with action. Besides lending support and laying out clear rules, parents need to be good role models-don’t abuse alcohol, smoke, or use illegal drugs.
- Parents should not feel comfortable with any drug experimentation by their child. Once you start to “normalize” drugs, you’ll never know exactly how much your child is using.
- Remember you’re a role model to your kids. From their infancy, they’re processing everything you do. They also observe how you cope with stress. If you’re showing your kids that it’s much easier to cope with life with a little alcohol, you’re sending them a message.
Resources
- Partnership for a Drug Free America Study Results
- Information for Families from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University
Tags: At Risk Teens, Parenting, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Girls, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Sue Scheff, Teen Drinking, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Underage Drinking – Why Do Some Parents Allow It?
by Sue Scheff on Jul 09, 2010
Sadly there are parents that allow drinking at home parties or otherwise. Underage drinking is illegal with or without parents permission. It is sort of disturbing that adults will condone this and in some cases, even encourage it. This week Connect with Kids went straight on with this topic. Take a few minutes and learn more about the dangers of underage drinking.
Source: Connect with Kids
Why Do Adults Condone Underage Drinking?
“It’s kind of like [parents] open the door as soon as you get to the party, and they have a bowl to the side where they take your keys before you even start drinking.”
– Cameron, Age 19
Earlier this summer, two Harvard Medical School professors were arrested because teenagers were found drinking at their daughter’s graduation party. As teen gatherings continue throughout the summer – and throughout the school year — what are the myths and the risks of “supervised” underage drinking?
Every year there are parents who break the law: they host a party and serve teens alcohol.
How often does this happen? According to teens, it happens all the time.
“It’s kind of like they open the door as soon as you get to the party,” says 19-year-old Cameron, “and they have a bowl to the side where they take your keys before you even start drinking.”
Why do some parents allow underage drinking?
“Because they would rather it be at their house and for them to have the control,” answers 19-year-old Marlena, “and for them to know where their kids are.”
“I hear that a lot,” says Dr. Michael Fishman, an addiction specialist, “and the fallacy is ‘to keep the kids safe’.”
That’s the assumption, but is it true? Is it really safer when kids drink with adult supervision?
“I’ve been at parties where I’ve seen a mom say, ‘hey, this kid is a little too drunk – no more for him,’” says 19-year-old Anthony.
The problem, kids say, is that sometimes there is no supervision.
“And it was pretty much all of us downstairs partying,” recalls 19-year-old Ryan. “The parents are upstairs doing – nothing. They just kind of minded their own business and let us have a party downstairs.”
“Usually they are not around,” agrees Flesner. “They just kind of host it and sometimes buy the alcohol – or they just allow it.
And often, the kids start drinking at home – but they don’t stay there.
“In fact, some people are going to leave that house intoxicated,” says Dr. Fishman.
“It was a lot of the wealthy parents who had a big house,” says 20-year-old Jessica Holt, about one party she attended. “A lot of people could come. They wouldn’t collect keys or anything.”
Finally, experts say, allowing kids to drink at home sends a message.
“You’re introducing a lifestyle to your 15, 16, 17 year old and that lifestyle is alcohol. And so by allowing them to drink in your home, you’re basically giving them permission to drink in the world at large and any time they’d like,” explains Stacey DeWitt, founder and CEO of Connect with Kids.
She says it’s easier for kids to say no if you make a stand against underage drinking that is loud and clear.
“I know my mother would kick my behind if I was drinking underage,” says 20-year-old Erin.
What Parents Need To Know
Research shows that adolescents may be more vulnerable to brain damage from excessive drinking than older drinkers. Alcohol impairs brain activity in the receptors responsible for memory and learning, and young people who binge drink could be facing serious brain damage today and increased memory loss in years to come. If one begins drinking at an early age, he/she is more likely to face alcohol addiction. Consider the following …
- Imaging studies have revealed a connection between heavy drinking and physical brain damage.
- Neither chronic liver disease nor alcohol-induced dementia, the most common symptoms of severe alcoholism, need be present for alcohol-induced, physical brain damage to occur.
- Alcohol-induced brain damage usually includes extensive shrinkage in the cortex of the frontal lobe, which is the site of higher intellectual functions.
- Shrinkage has also been observed in deeper brain regions, including the cerebellum, which helps regulate coordination and balance, and brain structures associated with memory.
- Alcohol abstinence has shown positive results. Even three to four weeks without alcohol can reverse effects on memory loss and problem-solving skills.
Adolescents have a better chance of recovery because they have greater powers of recuperation. If you suspect your child has alcohol-related brain damage, it is imperative to have him or her assessed by a medical doctor or psychologist. Treatment depends on the individual and the type of brain damage sustained. People with impaired brain function can be helped. Often it is necessary to reduce the demands placed on the patient. Also, a predictable routine covering all daily activities can help. Consider the following points when easing your child’s routine …
- Simplify information. Present one idea at a time.
- Tackle one problem at a time.
- Allow your child to progress at his or her own pace.
- Minimize distractions.
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Structure a schedule with frequent breaks and rest periods.
- Consider joining an alcoholism support group.
Resources
- New York Times Discussion — Should Parents Be Jailed When Children Drink
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Alcohol Alert
- American Academy of Family Physicians Drinking Facts for Teens
Tags: At Risk Teens, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Teen Body Image, Underage Drinking
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