[CCHS-2009] HOW TO SCHOOL YOUR KIDS...

[Catherine Galligan]

 From Aliza Edwards:

How to School your Kids and Teens at Home about 
Alcohol and other Trends - a summary

  The Concord Carlisle Parent Initiative offered 
this presentation for parents with children of 
all ages on April 3, 2007. We apologize that not 
everyone received notification of the 
presentation in a timely manner. Those who 
attended found the program to be very helpful and 
informative so we would like to share with you the highlights.

Note: Ms Bowen will offer a complete presentation 
of the 2006 Youth at Risk Behavior Survey on 
Thursday 4/12/07 @ 7:30 pm in the CCHS Auditorium.

  At the April 3 presentation, Kathy Bowen, the 
C-C Health Curriculum Specialist for K-12 was the 
initial presenter. Ms Bowen gave an overview of 
some of the findings of the 2006 Youth Risk 
Behavior Survey given to students in 
6,8,9,10,11,& 12th grades, in Concord, in May 2006.

Following Ms Bowen's presentation about these 
current trends, Renee Soulis, a Senior 
Intervention and Prevention Specialist for the 
Freedom from Chemical Dependency Program, 
discussed why it is important for all of us as 
parents to be aware of these behaviors in our children and their friends.

  Ms Soulis, who presents regularly to parents 
and educators, noted that adult opinions about 
under age drinking are 'fuzzy.'  She noted that 
adults are very clear about how they feel about 
teens using crack, cocaine or other street drugs, 
but alcohol is a gray area for many.

  She mentioned how 'glorified' alcohol is in our 
world.  She gave examples of media images 
portraying beautiful, successful appearing people 
having the time of their lives..., because they 
have a certain brand of alcohol in their hands. 
Or, real estate ads citing the wet bar as a focal 
point in a family home.  Also, our own language 
about alcohol.., "I've had a hard day, I need a 
drink."  May I take your coat?  May I get you a 
drink?"  "Let's celebrate with a bottle of wine."

  She emphasized that adult drinking is a legal 
choice.  However, adults often speak about 
drinking with such desire and fondness that it 
influences our children, at a very early age, to 
think alcohol is highly desirable and necessary 
at most celebratory and social occasions.  She 
asked that we disconnect joyous experiences from 
alcohol.  Don't make drinking look great. She 
believes if alcohol were presented as a new drug 
to the FDA, according to today's criteria, it 
would not likely be made legally available 
because of the harm it causes and negative side effects.

  Ms Soulis noted that the age of 21 years has 
been determined as the legal drinking age because 
studies have determined the brain does not fully 
mature until the 21st year.  Prior to 21 years 
the frontal cortex of the brain is exceedingly 
vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of 
alcohol.  She added that some adults and/or their 
friends drank earlier than 21years with little or 
no negative consequences.  This outcome is 
dependent upon the Risk and Protective Factors 
present.  She encouraged parents to be aware of 
and discuss the Risk Factors that exist within 
the family, starting in early elementary school and continuing until 21y.

The Risk Factors cited -
  - Is there a history of alcoholism in the 
family or extended family?  Alcoholism may not be 
formally diagnosed and may include high 
functioning, attractive and successful adults who 
cannot go for more than a day or two without a 
drink.  Talk openly about this if it exists in 
your family. Discuss the relationship of alcohol 
in your family with your kids.  They are at 
increased risk if an immediate or extended 
relative is an alcoholic. Boys are at a greater biological risk than girls.

  - Tolerance to alcohol.  If you have a high 
tolerance, require more than others of similar 
age and build in order to feel the effect, then 
you may be at risk for having a dependency on 
alcohol. Talk about this with your kids.  Studies 
have demonstrated biologic tolerance, beginning 
as early as 2 years of age.  Researchers measured 
the effects and how toddlers responded to alcohol 
in their medicines.  Toddlers who required larger 
than recommended doses have a greater tolerance 
than those who obtained benefit at a normal or 
lower dosage.  Tolerance behavior measured in 
toddlers continued to be consistent through the adolescence.

  - How does alcohol make you feel?  If you like 
the feeling you will use the drug again.  If you 
don't enjoy how it makes you feel physically 
and/or emotionally you are not likely to use 
regularly or in quantity.  Be aware of your own 
response to alcohol and discuss this with your 
family.  People who drink to get happy or more 
comfortable socially are at risk for becoming 
dependent.  "If you start having fun with alcohol 
you will struggle to have fun without 
alcohol."  The job of adolescence is learning how 
you fit and relate to the world.  It's hard to 
recreate yourself if you have been drinking 
through your teenage years. "Anytime you use a 
drug to enhance something your body does 
naturally, you lose the ability to do it 
naturally because your body becomes dependent on 
the chemical and stops producing its own, natural 
chemical."  Ms Soulis cited the example of 
caffeine consumption. Using caffeine decreases 
our production of norepinephrine, thus the 
headaches, fatigue and sluggishness without our 
morning jolt of coffee, something non-caffeine 
users (children) don't experience.

  - Every year you delay use you decrease the 
likelihood of addiction to alcohol by 14%  She 
recommends talking directly with your kids about 
this statistic.  Tell them you love them and 
because you love them you  want to prevent their 
using alcohol and other drugs.  Ask them "What do 
I need to do to prevent your using these drugs?" 
Have an honest negotiation, making it clear how 
strongly you believe they should not use.  If 
they are already using, bribe them if this 
works.., "I will pay you $..., if you stay sober 
until..."  Find out what motivates them (money, 
an event, etc) and use it.  Wait for a loving 
moment to have these conversations.  Our fear of 
addiction is what makes us nag.  1/10 kids will 
be addicted to alcohol by 21years!

  Ms Soulis then described the Protective Factors 
that prevent under age drinking.  The more 
Protective Factors in the life of a young person 
the less likely they will turn to alcohol.
- Ability to bring conflict to a quick and 
satisfying conclusion within the family.
- Family members have a strong sense of humor and rarely use sarcasm.
- There is a sense of family loyalty.
  - There is a sense of family tradition.  This 
serves to establish roots in our face-paced world.
- The family has a shared belief system. Beliefs in many areas.
- Family members are not afraid to ask for help outside of the family.
- There is an ease amongst all family members.
  - Shared responsibilities within the 
family.  Members are depended upon for certain roles/chores.

  Ms Soulis suggested adolescents go to events 
and parties with a buddy/ally who has a similar 
interest in staying sober.  Keep each other in 
eye contact during the party.  Develop a family 
code and encourage them to call you and use it if 
they need to leave the party.  Allow them to save 
face with their peers AND with you.

  Adolescents work on exaggerated false 
perceptions.  They will practice what they 
believe everyone is doing.  They need to be 
reminded that the majority (61.4%) of CCHS students are not drinking.

  As they prepare to go to college ask them to 
spend just the first 3 months getting involved in 
clubs, sports, anything but the party 
scene.  Likely, they will make friends in these 
areas with similar interests and thus avoid the 
party crowd. 27% of college students don't drink at all.

  The evening concluded with a presentation about 
the Be the Change program at CCHS and the 
upcoming Challenge Days of 4/30/07 and 
5/1/07.  Students asked for parental and adult 
help with this program.  To become involved or 
support this student-driven effort contact brianmiller at colonial.net.

  How to School your Kids and Teens at Home about 
Alcohol and other Trends was funded through the 
Northwest Suburban Health Alliance/CHNA 15 DoN funds through Lahey Clinic.
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