As
the calendar page turns and April’s Alcohol
Awareness Month draws to a close,
it is important to continue to raise awareness and understanding of alcohol use
and misuse and share helpful resources and support. This message can’t be
communicated often enough – Parents and
caregivers, please talk early and talk often to keep our kids safe and
healthy!
Prevention
experts recommend talking about alcohol with your child when they are about 9
years old – before they are exposed to alcohol and other drugs. If you
speak with your kids directly and honestly, they are more likely to respect
your rules and advice. This builds a solid foundation for communication and the
opportunity to help shape a child’s thoughts and actions about alcohol as they
move towards adolescence.
According to the chart above shared by the Partnership to End Addiction, analysis of 2018 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that those who begin drinking at an early age are more than 5 times likelier to develop an alcohol use disorder (AUD) than those who wait until age 21. Risks for AUD are even higher among teens who have a family member who has struggled with addiction.
This is why it's so important to talk to kids about alcohol while they are young to prevent or delay drinking for as long as possible. Keep the dialogue going as your child moves through elementary, middle, and high school.
Kids don't always have the facts when it comes to substance use. If parents don't talk about the
risks of underage drinking and substance use, there’s a chance their kids might
not see any harm in trying alcohol or experimenting with other drugs.
Conversations should set clear rules about expectations, family values, and help
kids learn how to make smart choices to stay healthy.
Alcohol Facts & Tips to help
talk to kids about drinking
https://drugfree.org/drugs/alcohol/
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/alcohol.html
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