1. Alcohol
Health

2. Parents Maintain open line of communication
Express clear, consistent message about alcohol
Build close relationship with teens
Number 1 (one) resource for information about alcohol

3. Underage drinking
More children are killed by alcohol than all illegal drugs combined
Children who begin drinking alcohol before the age of 15 are 5 times more likely than those who start after age 21 to develop alcohol problems
More kids use alcohol than tobacco or illicit drugs

4. Risks Alcohol use is strongly related to: Violence
Risky sexual behavior
Poor performance in school
Other harmful behaviors

5. Risks Violence/sexual activity
Children who start drinking before age 15 are more likely to be injured under the influence of alcohol
They are more likely to be in a fight after drinking, compared to those who wait until they are 21.
Alcohol use by teens is a strong predictor of both sexual activity and unprotected sex.
When surveyed, between 18 and 39% of teens say it is ok to force sex if the girl is high or drunk

6. Alcohol and judgement
Alcohol impairs parts of the brain that control the following:
Motor coordination- ability to walk, drive, think
Impulse control- increase chances of someone doing something they will regret
Memory- blackouts
Decision making capacity- young people who drink engage in risky behavior that can result in injury, sickness or death

7. School Teens who use alcohol have academic problems
Teens who use alcohol have higher truancy rates

8. Driving
Young people who drink and get into a car tend to make poor decisions that impact their safety.
Traffic crashes are the number one killer of teens and more than 1 in 3 teen traffic deaths are alcohol-related.

9. Positive influence
Research show children are less likely to drink when their parents are involved in their life and they feel closer to their parents
Older siblings influence younger brothers and sisters.
Parents who don't drink influence children's behavior so they won't drink.

10. Alcohol and the body
The drinker is affected with the first sip of alcohol
Alcohol enters the bloodstream through the lining of the stomach
Alcohol moves to every organ in the body through the bloodstream

11. Alcohol and the family
There is a significant genetic component that is passed from generation to generation.
Family environment can encourage alcoholism
Domestic violence may erupt from alcoholism
Marriages break up from alcoholism

12. Children of alcoholics
FAS- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, babies born with physical signs and intellectual disabilities resulting from alcohol use of pregnant woman
FAS is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation in the USA.
Children of alcoholics are at higher risk of developing drinking problems themselves.

13. Children of alcoholics
First use of alcohol typically begins around age 13, by senior year 64% of high school students get drunk at least once.
Higher risk for developing problems with other drugs.
Live with high tension and stress,
High level of anxiety and depression
Difficulty relating to peers

14. Recognizing a Problem Strong urge to consume alcohol (craving)‏
Inability to stop drinking once you start.
Experience withdraw symptoms when alcohol is not in your system
Elevated tolerance to alcohol
Spend a lot of time thinking about drinking
Cut down on activities in order to drink.

15. Conclusion
Avoid drinking behavior as long as possible, preferably until 21, then, consider moderation.
Utilize parents as number one resource.
Utilize non drinking family and friends as a resource to not drink.
Enjoy being a teen! Experiencing teenage “stuff” is more enjoyable without alcohol...