Alcohol

“There were a number of reasons why I drank in high school. It relaxed me at parties. When I saw people I wanted to get to know, alcohol put me at ease.”

Robert
Alcohol: True Stories Hosted by Matt Damon

Alcohol is young people’s number-one drug of choice. In fact, the average age at which children take their first drink is 13.1 Underage drinking is not a harmless rite of passage.

After a night of drinking, Robert crashed his dad’s car. His dream of being a professional soccer star was shattered in a split second. The crash severed his leg.

Some parents allow their children to drink if the kids promise not to drink and drive. But drinking and driving is just one risk of underage drinking. Under the influence, one is also more likely to have sex or to be involved with violence.

One main reason kids drink is to deal with stress. But when young people use alcohol to cope, they never learn healthy ways to handle their emotions. “In reality,” Dana says, “you’re just adding to your problems.”

You can keep your kids safe. Be a positive role model. Take time early and often to talk about underage drinking. Set limits. When children break rules, they need to lose privileges: access to cell phones, the car, and the Internet. It’s your job to keep them safe.

Remember: It’s worth the effort. Children who drink before age 15 are four times more likely to abuse alcohol as adults than kids who delay taking their first drink.2

Read Issues and Answers at wordscanwork.com for more about this topic.

1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
2. NIAAA

© 2006 Blake Works, Inc.

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