Moms and Dads who Offer a Sip ... Send Wrong Message
Moms and Dads who Offer their Kids a Sip of their Drink Send Wrong Message, Study Finds
(from www.cadca.org)
Researchers found that kids who had tastes of an alcoholic beverage before they started 6th grade were five times more likely to have a full drink by 9th grade, compared with their classmates who had not tasted alcohol, a new study suggested.
These "early sippers" were also four times more likely to get drunk or binge drink by their first semester of high school compared with their peers who abstained, the study showed.
Although there is a social norm that sipping alcohol at a young age may be an underage drinking prevention strategy, the study showed that such sipping is actually associated with an increased risk of drinking, as well as using other substances, by the time kids enter high school, said study senior author Kristina Jackson, associate professor (research) of behavioral and social sciences in the Brown University School of Public Health and at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies.
The research disputed the popular belief of what study authors called the "European approach," of exposing children to alcohol at a young age in hopes that this will protect kids against subsequent drinking because it makes drinking seem less taboo.
The study shows that early sipping is not necessarily harmless, Jackson told website Live Science, noting that although alcohol problems among teens may be lower in some Southern European countries, that's not the case in Great Britain, Ireland or Northern European countries.
The study looked at data collected from more than 500 middle-school students in Rhode Island, who were tracked during a three-year period, from the time they started sixth grade until they began their freshman year of high school. The kids were surveyed several times a year about their use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drugs, according to the study, which was recently published online in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
The results showed that by sixth grade nearly 30 percent of kids had tasted alcohol that was not part of a religious celebration, and they typically had this first sip by age 7. Most of these first sips were of wine or beer, and originated from parents offering their kids a taste of their drink at home.
By the time they got to ninth grade, about 26 percent of the early sippers had consumed a full drink, and about 9 percent had gotten drunk. In comparison, among their non-sipping peers, 6 percent had consumed a full drink and 2 percent had gotten drunk, according to the study.
But the study findings should encourage parents to be clear and consistent with children that alcohol is not for them, she said in a news release, including keeping it out of their reach around and beyond the home.
Nancy Barnett, Suzanne Colby, and Michelle Rogers are co-authors of the study, which was funded by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
Know is a program of
Drug Free Action Alliance
6155 Huntley Road, Suite H
Columbus, Ohio 43229
https://www.drugfreeactionalliance.org/know
Susan Powell - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Underage Drinking is NOT A Given
Kathy Radigan, a writer for the Huffington Post wrote, “An Open Letter to My Teenage Son About Drinking.” In the article, she talks about how fast time has gone and how so many things have changed; like how the little boy she was arranging play dates for, not so long ago, has now become a full-fledged teenager, heading out to eat and to the movies with his buddies - many times without an adult. She says what used to be sitting at a kitchen table chatting with another parent while the kids played, has now become a drive-by wave at best.
Kathy also says that her son’s “teen status” prompted many new questions about alcohol and other drugs from her friends and family. She was asked things like, “What will you do the first time your son comes home drunk?” and, “How will you handle it if you find out he is using drugs?” Kathy took such questions to mean that people just assumed her son (along with other teens) would automatically drink underage and possibly use other drugs. When she questioned the assumption, the most common response was, “Of course he will.”
Baffled by this mindset, Kathy decided to do what she does best, write about it. She says her son, like most of his peers, has been learning about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs in school since the time he was in kindergarten. She knows he is aware that substances affect judgment and increase a person’s likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors, like having sex or driving under the influence. In fact, just before entering his freshman year, her son willingly participated in a class assignment in which he promised not to smoke or drink in high school. With all this in mind, Kathy says it is maddening for people to believe that substance use among teens is a given.
Kathy makes it clear that she is not living in “La La Land,” like some people believe. She is simply saying that the thought of “kids will be kids” and “we did it at that age,” is not criteria we should base our parenting on, and that such attitudes and beliefs are likely to only confuse young people in their decision-making.
To ensure her son would not be confused and to make her expectations clear, Kathy wrote the following letter to her son (which all parents and children are encouraged to read and discuss):
For the full article published in the Huffington Post, written by Kathy Radigan, click here.
Source: Radigan, Kathy, Huffington Post: An Open Letter to My Teenage Son About Drinking, July 22, 2014.
Know is a program of
Drug Free Action Alliance
6155 Huntley Road, Suite H
Columbus, Ohio 43229
https://www.drugfreeactionalliance.org/know
The Link Between Athletes, Injuries and Pain Pills
- Your child may have a legitimate need for pain medication, however, you can advocate for the lowest dosage and duration to be prescribed – that will still ease your child’s discomfort.
- Do not blindly go with a doctor’s pain pill recommendation: ask questions and discuss all options before filling that prescription.
- Consider other pain management possibilities: alternatives may include imagery, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, acupuncture, etc. (check with your physician).
- Build confidence in your recovering athlete: help your child develop specific, measurable and controllable goals during the rehabilitation process.
- Help your child maintain his/her athletic identity: make a kind request to the coach for your child to remain a part of the team while rehabilitating.
- If necessary, explore mental health options.
Dr. Chris Stankovich is a professional licensed athletic counselor and the Founder
of Advanced Human Performance Systems. His work has been featured in USA
Today, ESPN, and ABC World News and he has developed a variety of programs
and products designed to help with happiness, health, and peak productivity. For
more information please visit www.drstankovich.com
Know is a program of
Drug Free Action Alliance
6155 Huntley Road, Suite H
Columbus, Ohio 43229
https://www.drugfreeactionalliance.org/know
What's Up With Weed
- Causes cognitive dysfunction when it comes to memory, perception of time, and ability to complete complex tasks and learn (some of which can become long-term issues as well);
- Negatively impacts decision-making, including increased risky sexual behavior;
- Impairs coordination and balance, leading to an increased risk of accident, injury and death.
- And while marijuana may have a calming effect on some users, it significantly increases the heart rate of others, and can cause panic and anxiety.
- Higher incidences of students dropping out of school;
- Poorer life outcomes and life satisfaction, including career and relationship matters;
- Poorer physical health and mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts among teens;
- Addiction – about 1 in 11 marijuana users become addicted and the odds may increase to about 1 in 6 for those who begin using in their teens.
Know is a program of
Drug Free Action Alliance
6155 Huntley Road, Suite H
Columbus, Ohio 43229
https://www.drugfreeactionalliance.org/know
Study Finds Driving Impairment from Marijuana Use Similar to That of Alcohol Use
Rebecca L. Hartman, Timothy L. Brown, Gary Milavetz, Andrew Spurgin, Russell S. Pierce, David A. Gorelick, Gary Gaffney, Marilyn A. Huestis
While some young people believe marijuana use has little-to-no effect on driving ability, a new study found that marijuana use impairs driving similar to alcohol use. The study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Office on National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), was released this week and published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Using a driving simulator, researchers found that marijuana use impairs one measure of driving performance. People driving with blood concentrations of 13.1 µg/L THC – the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana – showed increased weaving within the lane, similar to those with 0.08 breath alcohol, the threshold for impaired driving in many states.
The study found that drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana had an additive effect, so that drivers using both substances weaved within lanes even if their blood THC and alcohol concentrations were below the impairment thresholds for each substance alone.
Know is a program of
Drug Free Action Alliance
6155 Huntley Road, Suite H
Columbus, Ohio 43229
https://www.drugfreeactionalliance.org/know
Know! How to Ease the Challenges of Increased Freedom
The official Fourth of July holiday may have come and gone, but for those of us with tweens/teens, talk of independence and freedom continues on.
It is normal and healthy for adolescents to seek increased independence as they grow and develop. It is also normal for parents to have a hard time letting go. Naturally, we worry about our children’s health and safety and quite frankly, their ability to make good decisions. However, in order for our children to become mature, responsible, self-disciplined young people, we must loosen the reigns and allow them to make some decisions on their own, mistakes and all.
With that said, your freedom-seeking adolescent still needs your parental influence and the stability you provide. It is when parents allow more freedom than a child is ready to handle, or permit the wrong kind of freedom, that problems occur. Difficulties also arise when parents cling too tightly, not allowing children the freedom they need. Research tells us that children do best when they remain closely connected with their parents, yet are free to express their own thoughts and opinions.
The challenge for parents is in figuring out the right amount of freedom to give and when to give it.
Consider these tips in helping with that challenge:
Grant Independence in Stages: While age is important in deciding when and how much freedom to give, maturity and past performance are also key factors. Start small, permitting your child to make some decisions that don’t entail major consequences. If done well, you may choose to increase your son or daughter’s freedom a bit further. Regardless, you will gain a better sense of your child’s maturity level and his/her decision-making skills.
Set Clear Limits: Limits actually make children feel loved and more secure. They need and want to know what behavior is expected of them, especially as they are given additional freedoms. You don’t want your child to assume that increased freedom on one thing necessarily means increased freedom on something else. Therefore, boundaries must be set and clearly known by your child.
Give Reasonable Choices: Choices make youth more open to guidance. For instance, instead of just saying, “No, you can’t go to the party,” include some options like, “You can’t go the party, but you can have some friends over or I can drop you and some friends off at the movies.”
Guide Their Thinking: Adolescents are more responsive when they feel you are trying to guide, not control them. Engage your child in conversation, listen carefully, and then ask questions to get your child thinking about the potential outcomes of his/her actions.
Mistakes and Consequences Should Be Embraced: Making mistakes and experiencing the consequences that go along with them can serve as the best learning tool of all for our children - so long as the stakes aren’t too high and their health and safety aren’t at risk. Teach your child how to step back, examine what may have gone wrong and encourage them to think about how different choices may have led to a more positive outcome. We must resist the temptation to make excuses for our children’s poor choices or bail them out of difficult situations so that they may avoid the negative consequences. Children need to learn that every choice has a consequence, for better or worse, and they must be held accountable for their actions.
We must accept our children’s desire and need for increased independence and freedom while still providing guidance and support. In doing so, we provide our adolescents the opportunity they need to learn from their mistakes, take personal responsibility for their actions and grow in both maturity and self-discipline.
Know is a program of
Drug Free Action Alliance
6155 Huntley Road, Suite H
Columbus, Ohio 43229
https://www.drugfreeactionalliance.org/know