It’s not always easy to get through to adolescents. Parents need all the help they can get. NIAAA’s Web site for middle schoolers, thecoolspot.gov, is an interactive tool designed specifically for kids. The site helps parents reinforce many of the ideas presented here, including:

· A “reality check” on the drinking behavior of their peers (not everyone drinks).

· Compelling reasons not to drink.

· An inside look at peer pressure, how to recognize it, and how to avoid it.

· The most effective ways to say “no” to drinking.

· Help your child better understand the risks of underage drinking and ways to resist peer pressure. Log on together at www.thecoolspot.gov

Mom, Dad, Did You Drink When You Were a Kid?

This is the question many parents dread—yet it is highly likely to come up in any family discussion of alcohol. The reality is that many parents did drink before they were old enough to legally do so. So how can one be honest with a child without sounding like a hypocrite who advises, “Do as I say, not as I did”? This is a judgment call. If you believe that your drinking or drug use history should not be part of the discussion, you can simply tell your child that you choose not to share it. Another approach is to admit that you did do some drinking as a teenager, but that it was a mistake—and give your teen an example of an embarrassing or painful moment that occurred because of your drinking. This approach may help your child better understand that youthful alcohol use does have negative consequences.

SOURCE: College Drinking: Change the Culture

CTCADA offers both adolescent intervention and treatment programs. Education, individual counseling, family therapy, group counseling and referral to other resources are all part of a comprehensive effort to prevent or intervene in youth alcohol and drug abuse. Call us at 254-690-4455!