[CCHS-2010] How to School Your Kids and Teens at Home about Alcohol and Other Trends

[winslowin at aol.com]

     How to School your Kids and Teens at Home about Alcohol and other 
Trends  
    
    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.  
   
    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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