Alcohol Use and Abuse
Tis the Season To Talk With Your Teens
About Drinking And Drugs
It's the holiday season when family and friends gather to celebrate together. It's also a time when many teens find the opportunity and access to experiment and use alcohol and other drugs. Many teens report that they obtain the alcohol they drink from their parents, friends' parents, siblings, or older friends, with or without permission.
Parents are still the strongest influencers in their children's lives. Among 10-18 year olds, 65 percent cite their parents as the leading influence for them not to drink. Help make this holiday season safe for teens by following these tips compiled by the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County. Download Tips
Other articles and links for enjoying this holiday season:
- SAMHSA’s Building Blocks for a Healthy Future has a “Reconnect Through the Holiday Spirit” article for parents of children ages 3 to 6, and an activity for families, “Deliver the Holiday Message.”
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers pages of Holiday Health and Safety Tips.
- Young people can participate in prevention efforts with Holiday Activities developed by Students Against Destructive Decisions.
- Besides planning tips, SAMHSA’s Party Planning Tips for an Alcohol-Safe and Drug-Free Holiday Season (2004) also offers nonalcoholic drink recipes and lists other publications.