Teenage Alcoholism: 6 Tips For Teens To “Just Say No”
Posted Apr 02 2011 1:49pm
As parents, we all want our teens to “Just Say No” to drinking and drugs.Teenage alcoholism and teenage drug abuse is one of the worst problems any family has to go through. We need to equip our teens with skills to avoid teenage substance abuse.
Here are 6 ideas that you can share with your teen to help them turn down drugs or alcohol, if offered, without looking totally “uncool”.
“I am on medication that I can’t mix with alcohol.” (example antibiotics)
“I am on a work-out kick and can’t afford the extra calories.”
“If my parents ever caught me, I would be in so much trouble (you don’t know my parents). They would take my phone, my computer, my car- it’s not worth it.”
“I have asthma and I can’t risk it .” (for turning down marijuana).
“I have a stomach condition and alcohol is like poison to me.”
“I tried it a few sips before (alcohol) and it made me throw up. I think I am allergic.”
Parents must take an active role in prevention of teenage alcoholism and teenage drug abuse. The current data shows if there is any way you can delay the first drink your teen is exposed to until age 21, your teen will probably never suffer from alcoholism as an adult. Conversely, it your teen drinks before age 15, your teen has about four times the risk for alcoholism as an adult. Similarly, teenage drug abuse is a risk factor for adult drug abuse.
Teenage alcoholism and teenage drug abuse causes damage to the developing brain and is a risk factor for attention problems, memory problems, depression, and anxiety. Bottom line: Talk to your teens about risky behaviors and educate your teen about the consequences.
What suggestions do you have of what to tell your teen to say if offered drugs or alcohol? Please list in the comment section below.
As parents, we all want our teens to “Just Say No” to drinking and drugs. Teenage alcoholism and teenage drug abuse is one of the worst problems any family has to go through. We need to equip our teens with skills to avoid teenage substance abuse.
Here are 6 ideas that you can share with your teen to help them turn down drugs or alcohol, if offered, without looking totally “uncool”.
“I am on medication that I can’t mix with alcohol.” (example antibiotics)
“I am on a work-out kick and can’t afford the extra calories.”
“If my parents ever caught me, I would be in so much trouble (you don’t know my parents). They would take my phone, my computer, my car- it’s not worth it.”
“I have asthma and I can’t risk it .” (for turning down marijuana).
“I have a stomach condition and alcohol is like poison to me.”
“I tried it a few sips before (alcohol) and it made me throw up. I think I am allergic.”
Parents must take an active role in prevention of teenage alcoholism and teenage drug abuse. The current data shows if there is any way you can delay the first drink your teen is exposed to until age 21, your teen will probably never suffer from alcoholism as an adult. Conversely, it your teen drinks before age 15, your teen has about four times the risk for alcoholism as an adult. Similarly, teenage drug abuse is a risk factor for adult drug abuse.
Teenage alcoholism and teenage drug abuse causes damage to the developing brain and is a risk factor for attention problems, memory problems, depression, and anxiety. Bottom line: Talk to your teens about risky behaviors and educate your teen about the consequences.
What suggestions do you have of what to tell your teen to say if offered drugs or alcohol? Please list in the comment section below.