Do You Know Where Your Child Is?

Almost 23% of our high school seniors in Hall County are reporting that they drink. This is a slightly higher percentage than the state as a whole. Of those Hall County seniors who report drinking, 58% of them report that they drink alcohol at a friend’s house and 15% report drinking in cars.

When you give permission for your child to go off in a car or go to friend’s house, you might assume they will be safe. When it comes to alcohol or drug usage, assumptions can be deadly.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15- to 20-year-olds. (U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Traffic Safety Facts: Young Drivers,” 2007.)

The good news is that parents have a major influence in their child’s life. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, research has shown that two-thirds of teens say that losing their parents’ respect and pride is one of the main reasons they don’t use drugs. As a parent, you matter and can make a difference. Some suggestions:

• Know where your child is going, with whom, what they will be doing. Know what time they will be home and be awake when they get there.
• Have clear rules and consequences established. Develop these with your child’s input. Post them on the refrigerator. Review them periodically.
• Tell your child you expect him or her not to use drugs. Don’t expect your child to “just to know how you feel.”

Some of the rules you should consider:

1. Actively chaperon all underage parties in your home.
2. Make sure your child knows it is not permissible for him or her to be at parties where there are no parents present. Make sure the child knows that you will be calling the parents to confirm plans.
3. Call parents about your children. Your youth are networked; parents need to be networked also.
4. Do not serve or allow alcoholic beverages to be served or be on the premises at underage parties/activities in your home.
5. Do not permit any teenager who arrives or appears to be intoxicated to drive and alert his or her parent of the condition.

Parent Forums – Youth Substance Abuse in Hall County

In an effort to acknowledge, raise awareness, and mobilize a community response to the dangers of alcohol and other drug abuse among youth in the county, the Hall County Schools and Gainesville City Schools systems, and the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County are sponsoring two parent forums.

The forums are open to the public and will provide an opportunity for parents to ask questions of concern to members of a panel.  The panels will be comprised of representatives from the Judicial System, Mental Health / Treatment Services, Recovery Community, School Administration, Faith Community, School Counseling, Law Enforcement, and Youth.  Retired Juvenile Court Judge John Girardeau will facilitate both forums.

Find out how drugs are impacting the youthful user, their families, and friends.  Identify ways we, as responsible adults, can deter Hall County’s youth from substance abuse and alcohol.

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 – 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Gainesville College & State University – Continuing Education Building /Auditorium

Thursday, January 21st, 2010 – 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Gainesville High School – Performing Arts Center

Any persons or organizations wanting more information should contact the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County by phone at 770-534-1080 x 277 or email at jpbanks@faceitpeople.org.

Download the official flyer here.  Spread the word!

Researcher Decries Parental Permissiveness on Drinking

A Penn State researcher says that parents who let teens drink alcohol may be setting their kids up for binge drinking in college, but the study by Caitlin Abar of the school’s Prevention Research and Methodology Center makes no distinction between parents who simply let kids drink some wine during meals and those whose permissiveness extends to drinking outside the home.

Science Daily reported June 11 that Abar surveyed 300 college freshmen and correlated their alcohol use to the drinking rules set down by their parents. Abar found that students whose parents never allowed them to drink were less likely to report heavy drinking in college.

On the other hand, “the greater number of drinks that a parent had set as a limit for the teens, the more often they drank and got drunk in college,” said Abar.

Abar said the research argues in favor of “zero tolerance” for teen drinking and against the theory that parental restrictions on drinking casts alcohol as attractive “forbidden fruit” and leads to greater temptation to drink in college. Whether or not parents themselves drank had little impact on college binge drinking, Abar added.

Thirty-one states allow parents to legally serve alcohol to children under age 21.
The research was presented at a meeting of the Society for Prevention Research.

For the full article, click here.

Your Kids Are Watching

Research shows that children start feeling pressure from peers to experiment with drinking alcohol around ages 9-13, but as a parent, with your guidance, your child can learn to make the right decision. Some suggestions as to how you can help protect your child:

1. Be a good role model. Your actions as a parent speak just as loudly as talking to your child about alcohol and drug use. Parents who set a good example through their social habits have kids who do better in the areas of school, employment, relationships, coping and other life skills.
2. Ask other family members or friends to serve as positive role models for your child.
3. If you drink, never drink to the point of being intoxicated. Parents’ abuse of alcohol or other drugs significantly increases a child’s chances of using, using early and developing a substance abuse problem.
4. Have family dinners and parties without serving alcohol to show your child that it’s not necessary to consume alcohol in order to have fun.
5. Never drink and drive.
6. Never send the message that alcohol or other drugs are to be used to reduce stress or solve problems.
7. If you have a problem with alcohol or other drug use, get help.
8. Obey all laws. Know the laws about underage drinking in your state. It’s illegal for minors (those under age 21) to possess alcohol and it’s also illegal for an adult to supply alcohol to a minor.
9. Talk to your child about the dangers of underage drinking. Explain that drinking alcohol may affect learning due to young bodies and brains still developing.
10. Set clear rules for your child about alcohol and other drugs. Be firm about the consequences if rules are broken.

You Could Lose Me to Drugs or Alcohol

[If you have not done so, please take our Billboard Campaign Poll]

Don’t think it won’t happen to your child. Youth who are involved in drugs are reporting that they start with tobacco and alcohol and elementary and middle school. Prevention should start with parents. Don’t assume they know your beliefs and values about not using drugs.

The good news is that parents have a major influence in their child’s life. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, research has shown that two-thirds of teens say that losing their parents’ respect and pride is one of the main reason they don’t use drugs. You matter and can make a difference. Some suggestions we have are:

1. Plan “together time.” This does not need to be something that costs money. Your time is more valuable. Watching “their” TV shows will give opportunities. Playing “their” video games is another idea. How about their music? There are websites where you can find the lyrics to their music.
2. Eat meals together. Research shows that eating at least 5 meals together a week as a family decreases the risk of your child engaging in risk behaviors. These do not need to “fancy” meals. It is the time that is important.
3. Listen. Ask questions and be willing to hear the answers.
4. Talk. Do this often and when there is not a crisis. Times like driving in the car, taking a walk. Look for the times to talk and make it happen.
5. Look for the teachable moments. For example, we cannot shelter them from all the media influences, but we can help them navigate them.
6. Use open questions/statements. Some: “What do you think?’ “That’s a good question.” “Help me understand.”
7. Give honest answers. If you don’t know the answers, tell them you will find out.
8. Role play with your child. This may be one of the most important things you can do. If they are prepared to handle a situation before it happens, the better they will be able to avoid drugs.
9. Be clear about your values. Again, don’t assume they know how disappointed you would be if they used drugs, tell them.
10. Set limits. This is better to do early on. Don’t wait until a problem happens.