Parents Conversation Starter Handbook
Underage and Teens nowadays are embracing the influence of alcohol. Alcoholism may lead to accidents, negative consequences, and problems in health and in society.
From the National Survey on Drug and Health on 2002 and 2003, an estimated 17,000 of the individuals with an alcohol addiction or alcohol abuse problem in Kentucky over one year period were between the ages of 12-17 years old and estimated 67,000 were between the ages of 18-25. A 2009 National Survey of high school students found that 42 percent had drunk alcohol in the past 30 days, within that period, about 10 percent had driven after drinking alcohol and about 28 percent had ridden with a driver who had been drinking.
Almost every year, there are paper and web reports about young people involved in a tragic car accident because of drinking and driving. Communicating with children and teens and making them aware of the effects of alcohol can be a great aid to prevent problems and accidents in the long run.
Parents are encouraged to act and help their children about responsible alcohol use and driving under the influence of alcohol. Mothers against Drunk Driving and the American College of Emergency Physicians are the two national groups that want parents to prioritize discussion with their children and they offer a free handbook for assistance.
April 21 or PowerTalk 21 Day – is a national day for parents to start conversing with their children about alcohol use. Discussion about alcohol use with children can begin anytime and earlier the better.
Spring break, prom night, graduation celebration and summer are coming up. Those are high-risk moments of teenagers to drink. Parents must start talking in order not to end up regretting.
The “Power of Parents, It's Your Influence” handbook is designed to help overcome the fact that parent's don't always know how to bring up the topic with their kids. The handbook can be requested online. MADD Kentucky also offers 30-minute “Power of Parents, It's Your Influence” training sessions for parents and groups. Tara McGuire as the statewide youth program coordinator for MADD Kentucky will overviews the handbook and talks about on monitoring youths, setting expectations and discussing consequences during the sessions.
To get the “Power of Parents, It's Your Influence Handbook, go to www.madd.org/powerofparents.
Category: General
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