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Preventing Youth Substance Use - You are the #1 Influence! by Donna M. Kelly, CPWI Coalition Coordinator Panther Country Coalition & Cusick Youth Coalition
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he key reason kids give for not using alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs is that they do not want to disappoint their parents (Monitoring the Future survey). Parents can truly make a difference by talking to their teens about the risks of underage use. It is not uncommon for teens to act like they are not listening to you but in fact they are! Even though they may walk around with headphones on 24/7 do not assume they are listening to music at high volumes and not overhear you or that what you say is not being taken to heart, because many times it is. Kids are listening and paying attention. They also want to be happy, make you proud and live long healthy lives. One way to help them is by talking early (by 6th grade) and often about the consequences and risks of underage substance use.
What are the risks of underage use of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs? Early use of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs puts teens at greater risk for addiction and other health problems such as failing in school, and limited career choices by arrests and lack of education. These substances can impair areas of the brain that control motor coordination, impulse control, memory, learning and judgment. Because the teen brain is still developing, it is more vulnerable than an adult’s brain to the effects of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports underage substance use is associated with the top three causes of teen deaths: accidents (including traffic fatalities and drowning), homicide, and suicide. Over eighteen-hundred college students deaths each year are related to underage drinking according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 14 Wise Guide | 2021/2022 Edition
Teens who drink and use other drugs are more likely to engage in risky behaviors like sex. Such behavior can result in pregnancy, AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases (CDC). Kids who drink before age 15 are 4 times more likely to develop alcohol problems as adults (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality 2015).
How can I prevent my child from using alcohol or marijuana? Parents and caregivers have the greatest influence on a child’s decision about alcohol and other drugs. Research consistently shows that kids who learn a lot about the risks of alcohol and other drugs at home are 50% less likely to use, yet many parents find it difficult to talk about this. In fact, in Pend Oreille County over half of the parents (54%) have talked to their 10th graders about not using alcohol and marijuana according to the WA state 2018 Healthy Youth Survey. Local youth substance use is increasing as noted in the 2018 Pend Oreille County Healthy Youth Survey that reports 25% of 10th graders reported using marijuana in the past 30 days where as in 2016 it was only 20%. Alcohol trends are similar. In October of 2016, 26% of Pend Oreille County 10th graders report current use of alcohol and that is up from 18% in 2014. Parents are needed now as much as ever to help their teens make healthier choices.
Tips for parents • Create healthy substance free a rites of passage to adulthood • Set clear rules against using alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs • Help your children deal with peer pressure and stress • Be a good role model - show kids you don’t need a drink to relax or celebrate
