ALCOHOL 101 ALCOHOL 101 Parenting to Prevent Underage Drinking Ellen Snelling MS Tampa Alcohol Coalition

ALCOHOL Alcohol is a drug Alcohol is a drug Alcohol is the #1 drug of choice for children and adolescents Alcohol is the #1 drug of choice for children and adolescents Persons who first drank before the age of 15 are 5 times more likely to report dependence or abuse than those who first drank at 21 or older Persons who first drank before the age of 15 are 5 times more likely to report dependence or abuse than those who first drank at 21 or older

ALCOHOL IS A DRUG- THE #1 DRUG OF CHOICE FOR TEENS

WHERE DO KIDS GET ALCOHOL?

MANY TEENS GET ALCOHOL FROM HOME

ALCOHOL AT HOME 2 out of 3 teens said it is easy to get alcohol in their homes 2 out of 3 teens said it is easy to get alcohol in their homes Nearly 1 in 4 teens were given alcohol by their parents Nearly 1 in 4 teens were given alcohol by their parents 25% of parents allowed their kids to drink with “supervision” 25% of parents allowed their kids to drink with “supervision” 27% of teens said they attended a drinking party with parents present 27% of teens said they attended a drinking party with parents present source: AMA nationwide poll, 2005 source: AMA nationwide poll, 2005

SOURCES OF ALCOHOL FOR TEENS Adults over age 21 are the main source Adults over age 21 are the main source Youth under age 21 Youth under age 21 Parties Parties Bars, grocery stores, convenience stores and liquor stores Bars, grocery stores, convenience stores and liquor stores Fake IDs Fake IDs

IS IT OK TO LET TEENS DRINK AT HOME? NO! NO! It is illegal- parents can be arrested It is illegal- parents can be arrested It is condoning underage drinking It is condoning underage drinking Too much alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning Too much alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning Teen’s brains are still developing and alcohol can have a toxic effect Teen’s brains are still developing and alcohol can have a toxic effect

UNDERAGE DRINKING Affects school performance Affects school performance Increases risk of depression Increases risk of depression May cause brain damage May cause brain damage Associated with unprotected sex Associated with unprotected sex Impaired driving crashes are a major cause of death for teens Impaired driving crashes are a major cause of death for teens

BINGE DRINKING Increased Risks: Assault Assault Rape Rape Alcohol poisoning Alcohol poisoning Car crashes Car crashes Drowning Drowning Suicide Suicide Injuries and falls Injuries and falls

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ALCOHOL FACTS 45% of high school students drink 45% of high school students drink 23% binge drink 23% binge drink 25% of middle school students drink 25% of middle school students drink 8% binge drink 8% binge drink 19% of high school students went to school high or drunk 19% of high school students went to school high or drunk Source: Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey 2004 Source: Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey 2004

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IMPAIRED DRIVING FACTS 7,135 DUI arrests in ,135 DUI arrests in DUI arrests in 18 to 20 year olds 482 DUI arrests in 18 to 20 year olds Impaired 18 to 20 year old drivers caused 12.8% of the alcohol-related crashes in but this age group made up only 4.6% of licensed drivers Impaired 18 to 20 year old drivers caused 12.8% of the alcohol-related crashes in but this age group made up only 4.6% of licensed drivers 59 alcohol-related fatalities in alcohol-related fatalities in 2005 Source: HCSO and Florida DHSMV Source: HCSO and Florida DHSMV

DRINKING LAWS Minimum drinking age is 21 Minimum drinking age is 21 Purchase and possession under age 21 is illegal, fine up to $500 and 60 days in jail Purchase and possession under age 21 is illegal, fine up to $500 and 60 days in jail DUI- BAC.08- Possible jail time, DUI Counterattack class, fines, court fees, lose license, high risk insurance DUI- BAC.08- Possible jail time, DUI Counterattack class, fines, court fees, lose license, high risk insurance Zero Tolerance: driver under age 21 with.02 BAC- 6 month Driver’s License suspension Zero Tolerance: driver under age 21 with.02 BAC- 6 month Driver’s License suspension

MORE DRINKING LAWS Open container in car Open container in car Open container in street or park Open container in street or park Providing alcohol to youth under 21 Providing alcohol to youth under 21 Selling alcohol to minor Selling alcohol to minor Open house party Open house party Intoxicated and disorderly Intoxicated and disorderly Fake ID Fake ID ALL ILLEGAL! ALL ILLEGAL!

FAMILY 1 in 4 children are exposed to family alcoholism or alcohol abuse at home 1 in 4 children are exposed to family alcoholism or alcohol abuse at home Children of alcoholics are at higher risk of developing alcohol abuse Children of alcoholics are at higher risk of developing alcohol abuse Children are less likely to drink if they are bonded to parents Children are less likely to drink if they are bonded to parents Adolescents have fewer alcohol- related problems when parents provide supervision and discipline Adolescents have fewer alcohol- related problems when parents provide supervision and discipline

WHAT CAN A PARENT DO? Open communication Open communication Show you care Show you care Offer praise for good behavior Offer praise for good behavior Set clear rules and curfews Set clear rules and curfews Set a NO alcohol or drug use policy Set a NO alcohol or drug use policy Establish consequences and enforce them Establish consequences and enforce them Be a good role model Be a good role model Inventory and secure alcoholic beverages Inventory and secure alcoholic beverages

ALCOHOL FREE PARTIES Set ground rules Set ground rules Don’t allow uninvited guests Don’t allow uninvited guests Plan fun activities Plan fun activities If a guest brings alcohol- make him/ her leave If a guest brings alcohol- make him/ her leave Serve plenty of snacks and non- alcoholic drinks Serve plenty of snacks and non- alcoholic drinks Be visible and available Be visible and available

ALCOHOL FREE KIDS Encourage Activities: Sports and recreational activities Sports and recreational activities Church activities Church activities Club participation Club participation Employment Employment School attendance and good grades School attendance and good grades Volunteering Volunteering

RESISTANCE SKILLS Teach your child: How to say no to alcohol How to say no to alcohol Refuse to ride with an impaired driver Refuse to ride with an impaired driver To stay away from people and places that expose them to alcohol To stay away from people and places that expose them to alcohol How to leave a party where alcohol and drugs are being used How to leave a party where alcohol and drugs are being used To be a good influence on peers To be a good influence on peers

DO YOU KNOW? Where your child is? Where your child is? Is it a safe environment? Is it a safe environment? Who is she with? Who is she with? Is there adequate adult supervision? Is there adequate adult supervision? What is he is doing? What is he is doing? Is alcohol available? Is alcohol available? Do you know your child’s friends and their parents? Do you know your child’s friends and their parents?

WHEN YOUR CHILD COMES HOME FROM A NIGHT OUT Greet your child at the door Greet your child at the door Give him a hug Give him a hug Notice unusual behaviors Notice unusual behaviors Is she trying to avoid eye contact? Is she trying to avoid eye contact? Observe eyes- are they red, are eyelids droopy, are pupils dilated or constricted? Observe eyes- are they red, are eyelids droopy, are pupils dilated or constricted? Detect odors (alcohol, marijuana) Detect odors (alcohol, marijuana)

MY CHILD CAME HOME DRUNK- WHAT SHOULD I DO? Get medical attention for child if needed Get medical attention for child if needed Don’t have a conversation with them until morning or when sober Don’t have a conversation with them until morning or when sober Determine source of the alcohol Determine source of the alcohol When the child is sober, say you love him and will not allow drinking When the child is sober, say you love him and will not allow drinking Enforce appropriate consequences Enforce appropriate consequences

MY CHILD NEEDS HELP Educate yourself about alcohol on-line: Educate yourself about alcohol on-line: Call the Hillsborough County Help Line at 211 or Call the Hillsborough County Help Line at 211 or Get a substance abuse counselor Get a substance abuse counselor Referral to a treatment agency Referral to a treatment agency

GET INVOLVED Meet your child’s teachers Meet your child’s teachers Monitor school work Monitor school work Attend your child’s sports events Attend your child’s sports events Attend school activities for parents Attend school activities for parents Join the PTA Join the PTA Network with other parents Network with other parents Join the Tampa Alcohol Coalition and Join the Tampa Alcohol Coalition and the Anti Drug Alliance the Anti Drug Alliance

ALCOHOL ENVIRONMENT TV and radio alcohol ads TV and radio alcohol ads Sponsors of sport events Sponsors of sport events Happy hour signs Happy hour signs Alcohol billboards Alcohol billboards Drinking actors in movies Drinking actors in movies Alcohol at fairs and events Alcohol at fairs and events Community alcohol norms Community alcohol norms Alcohol law enforcement Alcohol law enforcement

ENVIRONMENTAL PREVENTION EXAMINE YOUR COMMUNITY: Alcohol advertisements Alcohol advertisements Beer and liquor billboards Beer and liquor billboards Alcohol laws and policies Alcohol laws and policies Enforcement of alcohol laws Enforcement of alcohol laws Community norms toward underage drinking Community norms toward underage drinking Underage access to alcohol Underage access to alcohol Drink specials- Ladies Drink Free Drink specials- Ladies Drink Free