A concerned parent wrote a letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer about a string of graduation parties he attended at which the graduates and their friends were given easy access to alcoholic beverages. The parties, he wrote, confirmed for him the findings of a recent study by the U.S. government which noted that many young people get alcohol from parents and other adults.

"'In far too many instances parents directly enable their children's underage drinking - in essence encouraging them to risk their health and well-being,' Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson said in a statement. 'Proper parental guidance alone may not be the complete solution to this devastating public health problem - but it is a critical part.'"

Some parents who approve of drinking at home may think they're protecting their kids from drinking and driving, but what they're really doing is encouraging drinking outside the home as well. A teenager who thinks his parents approve of his drinking is far more likely to partake at parties and other gatherings where parents aren't present.

Labels: parental_involvement, parties

'Tis the season for prom, graduations, and all the parties that go with them. The Alcohol and Drug Council of North Carolina has released information aimed at helping parents keep their kids safe this prom and graduation season.

"Before the celebrations begin, take a few minutes to talk with your graduate about the dangers of alcohol poisoning. What is it? Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing and the gag reflex, which prevents choking. Someone who drinks a fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop breathing. Even if someone survives an alcohol overdose, he or she can suffer irreversible brain damage."

The council also reminded parents that hosting a party with alcohol for underage teens is illegal and could result in criminal prosecution. Source: Mountain News

Labels: parental_involvement, parties, schools

A note was recently sent home from an Australian school district warning parents that children could be approached and offered crystal methamphetamine that looks and tastes like candy.

"A spokesman for the Department of Education and Training said last night a 'concerned and responsible Rozelle Public parent advised the school they heard a child (not a Rozelle student) was offered chocolate that may have been tainted with drugs.'

"The news has shocked and concerned many parents. Rozelle routinely teaches kids to avoid taking things from people they don't know, and to tell a teacher or parent when something like that happens. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Labels: candy, parental_involvement, warnings

Law enforcement officials in Placer County, California, have launched a new campaign titled "Parents Who Host Lose the Most" aimed at increasing awareness about the dangers of underage drinking - both for adolescents and the adults who supply the liquor.

"According to a survey conducted by the American Medical Association, 26 percent of parents in the United States with children aged 12 to 26 agree that teens should be able to drink at home with their parents present. A quarter of those parents admitted to allowing their children to drink at home."

Studies have found that the younger a person is when he starts drinking, the more likely he is to develop alcohol dependence later in life. Most states also have laws in place that prosecute adults who provide alcohol to underage kids, including their own. Source: News10 Sacramento

The effects of underage drinking can last long into adulthood. Learn more at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: parental_involvement, role_models, underage_drinking

On April 5, a group of young people will be setting the stage for a "party gone wrong." The simulated teen party will give adults an idea of what can happen when things get out of control.

"Youth leadership teams from Dayton, Silver City, Fernley, Silver Springs and Yerington have created dramatic skits involving worrisome situations for each room in a model home staged to look like a wild, unsupervised youth party. Adults will be led through a 20-minute tour of the staged party with a guide who will explain what they're witnessing."

When the tour is over, parents will have a chance to "debrief" with police officers, young people, and some adults who have recovered from addictions. The hope is that this simulated party will help parents get a better understanding of the things that can go wrong at teen parties, and how those things can be prevented. Read more at News.RGJ.com.

Parents also need to learn what they're liable for if their teen throws a party at their house. Read Hosting Teen Parties: What's Your Liability? to learn more.

Labels: parental_involvement, parties, prevention

Parents in Chattanooga, Tenn., gathered together on Tuesday night to discuss the issue of teen drug abuse. The forum was called in response to the March 1st death of a 15-year-old who overdosed on prescription medication.

"A group of students volunteered to start a peer council and share the experience of teen angst with their classmates... Parent Alan Broom said the peer council was the most well-received idea at Tuesday's forum, which was attended by dozens of parents but closed to the media."

Parents also discussed the importance of meeting their kids' friends and their friends' families. Read more at TimesFreePress.com.

Pharm parties are ways for teens to experiment with prescription drugs. Learn more about pharm parties and prescription drug abuse at ByParents-forParents.com.

Labels: parental_involvement, prescription_drugs

Last Wednesday, the Coalition for a Drug Free Nevada County hosted a town hall meeting intended to inform parents of the dangers of teen binge drinking. Unfortunately, few parents attended the meeting.

"The incidence of young men getting into a fight due to intoxication is huge, Callahan said. It's equally common for young girls to find themselves in physically vulnerable positions at parties because they're drunk, she added."

Lack of parental involvement and lack of understanding about the dangers of teen drinking lead to increased drinking incidents and also can lead to trouble with the law for both parents and teenagers. Read more at TheUnion.com.

Labels: binge_drinking, parental_involvement

Talk about teen substance abuse typically centers on extreme behavior - getting drunk at parties, habitual drug use, and so on. But even occasional use can create a dangerous habit.

"Most teenagers will tell you gulping down an occasional glass of beer along with a cigarette at a bar is fun, not substance abuse. That's where they are wrong. One glass of beer may not be addictive, but can lead to a chain of behavior that can leave you a physical and mental wreck. It can become a habit."

The habit becomes an even greater risk when parents aren't actively involved in their kids' lives. Read more at HindustanTimes.com.

NorthStar Center teaches teens and young adults how to have safe, sober fun. Learn more about their adolescent substance abuse treatment program at www.northstarcenter.com.

Labels: behaviors, parental_involvement, parties