About 10.8 million adolescents ages 12-20 are underage alcohol drinkers.¹

The above statement is not just an alarming statistic. It represents a real problem facing families, communities, and children every day. Children who drink are more likely to be victims of violent crime, have serious problems in school, and be involved in drinking-related traffic crashes. Alcohol use also is linked with youthful deaths by drowning, suicide, and homicide.²

Kids are flooded with media messages that glamorize alcohol use, and they also may be pressured by peers to drink. However, parents have enormous influence on the choices their children make. So tell them what you expect from them if they are offered alcohol, are at a party where alcohol is being served, or the person driving them home has been drinking. Remind them of your rules and the consequences of breaking those rules. Communication with your child is the key to preventing underage alcohol use.

So, talk to you child about how alcohol affects.

.her mind

Although initially alcohol feels like a stimulant by making her feel more lively, it ultimately acts as a depressant and causes sedation and drowsiness. Alcohol slows down her ability to think, talk, react, and make decisions as she normally would. This can lead to poor choices and risky behavior.3 Alcohol impairs coordination, causes memory lapses, and slows reaction time.4 If she drinks enough to get alcohol poisoning, her brain slows down so much that she can slip into a coma or even die.5

...his body

Alcohol can damage every organ in his body, including his brain.6 Alcohol increases his risk for a variety of life-threatening diseases, including cancer.7 Drinking can cause nausea and vomiting. Drinking a lot at one time can lead to fainting, difficulty breathing, coma, and death.8 And because it affects coordination, if he is drinking-or is around people who are drinking-he has an increased risk of being seriously injured, involved in car crashes, or affected by violence.9

.her emotions

Alcohol depresses her central nervous system, making her feel less inhibited and less in control. This can lead to risky behaviors she would not do if she were sober.10 Alcohol is a depressant, or downer, because it reduces brain activity for everyone. But, if she is already depressed before she starts drinking, alcohol can make her feel worse.11 Some people become addicted to alcohol-they feel like they need to drink more and more to feel "okay."12

Remember, parents have more influence on their child's values and decisions about drinking before he or she begins to use alcohol.¹³ Talk to your child today.

Resources

¹Scholastic, Inc., 2005. Reach Out Now: Talk With Your Fifth Graders About Underage Alcohol Use, Teacher Pages, last referenced 12/20/2005.

²NIAAA, 2004. Make a Difference: Talk to Your Child About Alcohol, last referenced 12/20/2005.

³Scholastic, Inc., 2005. Reach Out Now: Talk With Your Fifth Graders About Underage Alcohol Use, Family Resource Guide, last referenced 12/20/2005.

⁴NIAAA, 2004. Make a Difference: Talk to Your Child About Alcohol, last referenced 12/20/2005.

⁵Scholastic, Inc., 2005. Reach Out Now: Talk With Your Fifth Graders About Underage Alcohol Use, Family Resource Guide, last referenced 12/20/2005.

⁶SAMHSA. Tips for Teens: The Truth About Alcohol, last referenced 12/20/2005.

⁷Ibid.

⁸Scholastic, Inc., 2005. Reach Out Now: Talk With Your Fifth Graders About Underage Alcohol Use, Teacher Pages, last referenced 12/20/2005.

⁹SAMHSA. Tips for Teens: The Truth About Alcohol, last referenced 12/20/2005.

¹⁰Ibid.

¹¹Ibid.

¹²Scholastic, Inc., 2005. Reach Out Now: Talk with Your Fifth Graders About Underage Alcohol Use, Teacher Pages, last referenced 12/20/2005.

¹³NIAAA, 2004. Make a Difference: Talk to Your Child About Alcohol, last referenced 12/20/2005.