How to talk to your teen about drinking and drugs

Photo: Levi Guzman

Preventing early drinking can be a life-changing decision: When someone drinks during adolescence, it increases their risk for problems with alcohol use. If parents don’t talk about the risks of underage drinking and substance use, then kids might not see any harm in trying them.

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Just like you, kids need facts about the harms of underage use of alcohol and drugs. A healthy brain is your child’s key to a bright future. It determines who they are, impacting their ability to reach their full potential. Research shows that underage drinking and drug use can change how brains develop, impairing memory, learning and good judgment. When someone drinks during adolescence, it increases the risk for alcohol use disorder. That’s why preventing early drinking can be a life-changing decision.

Having a conversation allows parents to set clear rules about what they expect from their kids when it comes to alcohol and other drugs.

Here are a few facts to get you started:

• Nearly four out of five people in treatment for alcohol use disorder say they began drinking alcohol in adolescence, according to research from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

• Studies show that teens who regularly misuse cannabis are more likely to experiment with other drugs, including a 130% greater likelihood of misusing opioids.

• During this crucial period when kids are learning healthy coping skills, cannabis can hijack the process, leaving kids unable to cope with everyday life. This increases the rates of social anxiety in teens who misuse marijuana.

How can you influence their choices?

• Get into their world! Take an interest in their hobbies, music and activities. You could even play a video game together.

• Learn who they are hanging out with. Social circles influence choices.

• Eat meals as a family. Children who eat five meals a week with their parents are 33% less likely to drink underage.

Learn more about the effects of underage drinking on your child’s developing brain and tips on talking with them today by visiting ParentsEmpowered.org.