By Alyssa Martina: Parent Coach
Being a parent is full of heart-stopping moments. From crossing the street to talking with strangers, our children's lives are peppered with experiences that are a heartbeat away from an accident or mishap.
As parents, our job is to worry about and forecast the "what ifs" and prevent as many calamities as possible. Being precautious is just one of the many job requirements of "Parent." Anticipating what curves lie ahead is a vital -- and possibly lifesaving -- competency with which every mom or dad wants to be imbued. Chief among these curves is the concern surrounding all-too-common and hazardous underage drinking.
It's homecoming season now and that means that your older - and younger - teens will be tempted to engage in homecoming festivities where alcohol may be a staple of the party scene. But your kids don't drink, right? Don't be so sure. The most popular time for children to try alcohol is in the eighth grade. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 50 percent of eighth graders have tried alcohol and nearly 70 percent of eighth graders believe alcohol is "fairly easy" or "very easy" to get.
Just as disconcerting is the fact that the younger a child is when he first tries alcohol, the more likely he is to have a serious alcohol abuse problem later in life. Therefore, it's simply too late to begin the "don't drink" conversation when your kids are already teens or when you begin to see signs of teenage drinking.
It's a tough discussion that many parents naturally want to side-step altogether. Of course, no teen -- regardless of whether he or she drinks or not - is going to encourage having this conversation either; after all, teens want to feel grown up and they believe they are mature enough to make the right decisions.
They're not. Parents need to be on the offensive when it comes to teenage drinking. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 5,000 underage drinkers die every year in accidents related to their drinking. If your own child isn't drinking, maybe he's riding in a car with a teen driver who is.
Parents must talk to their tweens and teens about alcohol, and the sooner, the better. The more willing you are to discuss this in a clear and positive way, the easier your kids will feel about coming to speak with you about it and the more likely you'll be to avoid the problem of teenage drinking before it even starts.
Other tips include providing cool alternatives for fun for your teenagers, being a good role model yourself when it comes to drinking and staying engaged with your kids even as they get older and seemingly don't need you quite as much. They do. You are the primary influencer in their lives, no matter their age.
Friends have an enormous influence over your kids as well. You need to know where your teens are and with whom they're hanging out. "Trust but check" was my friend's tried-and-true insight when it came to dealing with her own teens.
Teens often are confronted with difficult choices. Should they take part in the fun? Should they wait? It's hard to say "no" when their friends are pressuring them to say "yes." And we need to reward their good decisions.
Ultimately, it comes down to teaching our children to make sound choices that will impact their future in both small and large ways.
Alyssa Martina is founder, president and publisher of Metro Parent Magazine and one of Metro Detroit's foremost experts on parenting. You can reach her at amartina@metroparent.com.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Zumbrota Town Hall Meeting
Wednesday evening, October 8th, 2008, Zumbrota community members met at a town hall meeting to learn about the chemical health issues facing our youth and show support for the development of the Zumbrota Chemical Health Initiative Council.
Underage drinking is a critical health and safety issue, and representatives from the entire community attended, including parents, youth, education professionals, health providers, members of the recovery community, law enforcement, members of the faith communities, civic group representatives, business owners, and concern citizens. It was encouraging to see Zumbrota community members volunteering to join the CHI Council, seeking to provide solutions for our young people, so that they don’t become the next generation of adults who need to deal with the devastating effects of chemical dependency.
Currently Goodhue County has three Local Chemical Health Initiative Councils, Zumbrota will be the fourth Council in the County. Tia Schimek, the Goodhue Council Chair and Tim Sletten, the Red Wing Council Chair shared their experiences working on chemical health issues through their local councils and offered their support to the Zumbrota community members as they begin to develop their Council.
At the meeting, attendees learned the latest information about the scope of underage drinking, and its consequences. Including that, young people who begin drinking before they're 15 are a whopping four times more likely to develop alcohol problems later in life than those who wait until they're 21. The group discussed how alcohol and drug use has affected the community. They also shared ideas on how if all community sectors (parents, schools, law enforcement, faith groups, youth organizations, support groups, civic organizations, and health providers) joined in a common effort and promoted chemical health it could improve the quality of life for individuals, families and the community as a whole.
Currently nominations are begin accepted for serving on the Zumbrota Council, anyone who is interested should contact the Community Coordinator, Jean Balcome-Dicke at 507-263-4594 or via email at jean.balcomedicke@goodhue-chi.org
Underage drinking is a critical health and safety issue, and representatives from the entire community attended, including parents, youth, education professionals, health providers, members of the recovery community, law enforcement, members of the faith communities, civic group representatives, business owners, and concern citizens. It was encouraging to see Zumbrota community members volunteering to join the CHI Council, seeking to provide solutions for our young people, so that they don’t become the next generation of adults who need to deal with the devastating effects of chemical dependency.
Currently Goodhue County has three Local Chemical Health Initiative Councils, Zumbrota will be the fourth Council in the County. Tia Schimek, the Goodhue Council Chair and Tim Sletten, the Red Wing Council Chair shared their experiences working on chemical health issues through their local councils and offered their support to the Zumbrota community members as they begin to develop their Council.
At the meeting, attendees learned the latest information about the scope of underage drinking, and its consequences. Including that, young people who begin drinking before they're 15 are a whopping four times more likely to develop alcohol problems later in life than those who wait until they're 21. The group discussed how alcohol and drug use has affected the community. They also shared ideas on how if all community sectors (parents, schools, law enforcement, faith groups, youth organizations, support groups, civic organizations, and health providers) joined in a common effort and promoted chemical health it could improve the quality of life for individuals, families and the community as a whole.
Currently nominations are begin accepted for serving on the Zumbrota Council, anyone who is interested should contact the Community Coordinator, Jean Balcome-Dicke at 507-263-4594 or via email at jean.balcomedicke@goodhue-chi.org
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Recovery Celebration
On Sunday September 21, the Chemical Health Initiative of Goodhue County (CHI) sponsored a Recovery Celebration at East Park in Zumbrota. The celebration was held to honor individuals and families who are working on recovery from addiction. The event also highlighted the many organizations and agencies that provide recovery services in Goodhue County.
The CHI Celebrate Recovery Picnic was planned as part of National Recovery Month, and to coincide with special events held throughout the month of September across the country. Working with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), the Goodhue County Recovery Celebration event focused on the societal benefits of substance abuse treatment and promoted the message that recovery from substance abuse in all its forms is possible. The theme of the Celebrate Recovery picnic was Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery. The program included personal stories told by three Goodhue County residents who are now in recovery from serious drug and alcohol addiction.
The celebration was planned as a family picnic and included informational booths with treatment and recovery services materials. Hot dogs, cookies and beverages were donated by ALCO and Hub Foods, Connecting Connections of Red Wing served the food at the event.
The children who attended the event were entertained by clowns,
face painting,
and Howie the CHI Mascot who lets kids know “It’s Fun to be Alcohol Free.”
Children’s books donated by the Goodhue County Early Childhood Family Education Program were awarded to families as door prizes during the event.
Dennis Nelson, Chemical Dependency Counselor from the Prairie Island Indian Community opened the event with the serenity Prayer. Carol Falkowski, Director of Chemical Health, Minnesota Department of Human Resources spoke about the powerful role that community leaders can play in educating the public that recovery from addiction is real and treatment truly does save lives.
CHI Super Star Awards were presented at the picnic to honor and thank individuals and organizations in Goodhue County that were demonstrating special dedication to the cause of promoting recovery for all persons suffering with substance use disorders. The Super Star Awards were given to; Linda Flanders of Taproot, Inc of Red Wing, Breanna Mundt-Devetter of Cannon Falls, the Lions Club of Goodhue, and Zumbrota Police Department. Attendees received door prizes donated by Bridget’s Café and Jimmy’s Pizza of Zumbrota, Country Station of Goodhue, Greg’s Meats and Write On of Cannon Falls. The event concluded with a performance from Andrew Hoffpauir, a Red Wing High School student, singing his own rap song about the pain and suffering of addiction and the importance of keeping our world healthy and safe for all human beings. Check out Andrew's video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01tU8cxX248.
The CHI Celebrate Recovery Picnic was planned as part of National Recovery Month, and to coincide with special events held throughout the month of September across the country. Working with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), the Goodhue County Recovery Celebration event focused on the societal benefits of substance abuse treatment and promoted the message that recovery from substance abuse in all its forms is possible. The theme of the Celebrate Recovery picnic was Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery. The program included personal stories told by three Goodhue County residents who are now in recovery from serious drug and alcohol addiction.
The celebration was planned as a family picnic and included informational booths with treatment and recovery services materials. Hot dogs, cookies and beverages were donated by ALCO and Hub Foods, Connecting Connections of Red Wing served the food at the event.
The children who attended the event were entertained by clowns,
face painting,
and Howie the CHI Mascot who lets kids know “It’s Fun to be Alcohol Free.”
Children’s books donated by the Goodhue County Early Childhood Family Education Program were awarded to families as door prizes during the event.
Dennis Nelson, Chemical Dependency Counselor from the Prairie Island Indian Community opened the event with the serenity Prayer. Carol Falkowski, Director of Chemical Health, Minnesota Department of Human Resources spoke about the powerful role that community leaders can play in educating the public that recovery from addiction is real and treatment truly does save lives.
CHI Super Star Awards were presented at the picnic to honor and thank individuals and organizations in Goodhue County that were demonstrating special dedication to the cause of promoting recovery for all persons suffering with substance use disorders. The Super Star Awards were given to; Linda Flanders of Taproot, Inc of Red Wing, Breanna Mundt-Devetter of Cannon Falls, the Lions Club of Goodhue, and Zumbrota Police Department. Attendees received door prizes donated by Bridget’s Café and Jimmy’s Pizza of Zumbrota, Country Station of Goodhue, Greg’s Meats and Write On of Cannon Falls. The event concluded with a performance from Andrew Hoffpauir, a Red Wing High School student, singing his own rap song about the pain and suffering of addiction and the importance of keeping our world healthy and safe for all human beings. Check out Andrew's video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01tU8cxX248.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Drug Test for Prep Athletes Considered by State Doctors Group
State doctors group debates proposal
By Katherine Wolfe kwolfe@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 09/18/2008 11:59:06 PM CDT
Minnesota doctors are considering a proposal that would require high school athletes to take a drug test during routine physicals.
Doctors debated Thursday whether to ask for legislation during an open session at the Minnesota Medical Association's annual meeting, where about 150 state physicians met to vote on resolutions brought by members.
Dr. George Schoephoerster, a St. Cloud family physician, supports the proposal. He said urine tests done during routine physicals would be a way to monitor behavior and keep athletes, who often serve as role models for their peers, in check. If an athlete tested positive, it would give physicians a chance to pinpoint and treat the behavior usually undisclosed by the patient, Schoephoerster said.
See the full article at: http://www.twincities.com/health/ci_10503102
By Katherine Wolfe kwolfe@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 09/18/2008 11:59:06 PM CDT
Minnesota doctors are considering a proposal that would require high school athletes to take a drug test during routine physicals.
Doctors debated Thursday whether to ask for legislation during an open session at the Minnesota Medical Association's annual meeting, where about 150 state physicians met to vote on resolutions brought by members.
Dr. George Schoephoerster, a St. Cloud family physician, supports the proposal. He said urine tests done during routine physicals would be a way to monitor behavior and keep athletes, who often serve as role models for their peers, in check. If an athlete tested positive, it would give physicians a chance to pinpoint and treat the behavior usually undisclosed by the patient, Schoephoerster said.
See the full article at: http://www.twincities.com/health/ci_10503102
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Five Ways Parents Can Help Middle School Kids Delay Their First Drink
WASHINGTON, Sept 04, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The first few weeks of middle school are a frenzy of friends, parties, and school events. It's also time for parents to start talking with their kids about the dangers of drinking alcohol, according to The Science Inside Alcohol Project of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Twenty percent of 14 year-olds say they've been drunk at least once, according to the Surgeon General, and recent news points out dangers of alcohol use by the young:
-- The Partnership for A Drug-Free America released a study in August, 2008 of 6,500 teens in which 73% said school stress caused them to drink and take drugs.
-- A Columbia University study, also released in August found that "problem parents," those who let their kids stay out past 10:00 PM on school nights in particular, are putting them in situations where they are at risk for drinking and drug use.
-- About 100 university leaders called for a national discussion of lowering the drinking age back to 18, saying it's not clear that 21 works.
The middle school years are crucial in the battle to prevent early alcohol use. Young adolescents' bodies and friendships are changing. They start pulling away from parents; yet seek out other adults for guidance. It's the most vulnerable time, specialists say, but also one of the last times they still can be influenced by adults.
No one sets out to be a disengaged parent. But it's hard to be vigilant and talk to your kids about complicated topics when you are constantly on the go. "As parents better understand the physiological effects of alcohol on the body and the fact that their children might be starting younger, it can motivate them to have this sometimes awkward conversation," says Shirley Malcom, head of the Education & Resources Directorate at AAAS. "That's where the science can help."
Members of AAAS' The Science Inside Alcohol Project are writing a book for middle school parents and developing an interactive Web-based science and health curriculum explaining how alcohol affects adolescents' brains and bodies. Based on extensive research, the AAAS team suggests five steps parents can take to talk with their kids about alcohol.
1. Find Teachable Moments - We live in a culture of celebrity. If a celebrity your child admires admits to a drinking problem, or an instance of alcohol abuse occurs in your community, talk about it. Ask your middle school student if she knows anyone who drinks alcohol and whether it is at parties or has been brought into her school. Answer questions. Have this conversation often.
2. Talk to Your Kids When Everything is Fine - Middle school students are volatile, hormonal beings. They are sweet and wonderful one moment, and blow up the next. Pick a time when things are quiet and they're a captive audience such as in the backseat of your car. Don't take no for an answer.
3. Engage Your Kids in the Science of Alcohol - Adolescents are incredibly self-involved. Alcohol can cause memory loss, impair sports performance, incite embarrassing behavior and affect how they feel and look. Make them aware of these facts. If there is a history of alcoholism in your family explain about genetic predispositions towards alcohol abuse.
4. Be Vigilant - There's no alternative to monitoring your kids. Have an early curfew. Know where they are at all times. Even if you are not home on a weeknight, make sure you can reach your kids by phone. Get to know their new friends and their parents. Find out what their rules and level of engagement are.
5. Learn to Trust Your Child - Now's the time when all the work you've put into creating a value system for your child begins to pay off. Set limits and enforce rules, but remember to give your child room to make his or her decisions, within your comfort zone. Praise them when they do well. It's worth a thousand words.
The Science Inside Alcohol Project of AAAS is funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
SOURCE AAAS
Twenty percent of 14 year-olds say they've been drunk at least once, according to the Surgeon General, and recent news points out dangers of alcohol use by the young:
-- The Partnership for A Drug-Free America released a study in August, 2008 of 6,500 teens in which 73% said school stress caused them to drink and take drugs.
-- A Columbia University study, also released in August found that "problem parents," those who let their kids stay out past 10:00 PM on school nights in particular, are putting them in situations where they are at risk for drinking and drug use.
-- About 100 university leaders called for a national discussion of lowering the drinking age back to 18, saying it's not clear that 21 works.
The middle school years are crucial in the battle to prevent early alcohol use. Young adolescents' bodies and friendships are changing. They start pulling away from parents; yet seek out other adults for guidance. It's the most vulnerable time, specialists say, but also one of the last times they still can be influenced by adults.
No one sets out to be a disengaged parent. But it's hard to be vigilant and talk to your kids about complicated topics when you are constantly on the go. "As parents better understand the physiological effects of alcohol on the body and the fact that their children might be starting younger, it can motivate them to have this sometimes awkward conversation," says Shirley Malcom, head of the Education & Resources Directorate at AAAS. "That's where the science can help."
Members of AAAS' The Science Inside Alcohol Project are writing a book for middle school parents and developing an interactive Web-based science and health curriculum explaining how alcohol affects adolescents' brains and bodies. Based on extensive research, the AAAS team suggests five steps parents can take to talk with their kids about alcohol.
1. Find Teachable Moments - We live in a culture of celebrity. If a celebrity your child admires admits to a drinking problem, or an instance of alcohol abuse occurs in your community, talk about it. Ask your middle school student if she knows anyone who drinks alcohol and whether it is at parties or has been brought into her school. Answer questions. Have this conversation often.
2. Talk to Your Kids When Everything is Fine - Middle school students are volatile, hormonal beings. They are sweet and wonderful one moment, and blow up the next. Pick a time when things are quiet and they're a captive audience such as in the backseat of your car. Don't take no for an answer.
3. Engage Your Kids in the Science of Alcohol - Adolescents are incredibly self-involved. Alcohol can cause memory loss, impair sports performance, incite embarrassing behavior and affect how they feel and look. Make them aware of these facts. If there is a history of alcoholism in your family explain about genetic predispositions towards alcohol abuse.
4. Be Vigilant - There's no alternative to monitoring your kids. Have an early curfew. Know where they are at all times. Even if you are not home on a weeknight, make sure you can reach your kids by phone. Get to know their new friends and their parents. Find out what their rules and level of engagement are.
5. Learn to Trust Your Child - Now's the time when all the work you've put into creating a value system for your child begins to pay off. Set limits and enforce rules, but remember to give your child room to make his or her decisions, within your comfort zone. Praise them when they do well. It's worth a thousand words.
The Science Inside Alcohol Project of AAAS is funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
SOURCE AAAS
Friday, September 5, 2008
Much-Higher Age Would Help Colleges
Chris Weiss: Set legal age for drinking at 25
Lansing State Journal August 31, 2008
“I have read of the list of college and university presidents urging reconsideration of the legal drinking age.
I was an undergraduate at Michigan State University in the '80s and saw the devastation inflicted upon the student population by alcohol. I saw brilliant students who could not handle the transition from rules 24/7 to the anything goes atmosphere of college life. Many college-age students are not ready to use alcohol responsibly.
The problem is, the drinking age of 21 is actually too low.
Older undergraduates buy for younger undergraduates, effectively negating the drinking age on most campuses. I know that was how I drank at MSU.
I think the better idea would be to raise the drinking age to 25, greatly limiting the number of legal buyers on campus.
By 25, most college students would either be out in the work force or in graduate school, where people are forced to act more responsibly than they are in college.
Most alcoholics start young; many start in college. It would seem that if we could postpone drinking until most people were out of college, we would lower the rate of alcoholism. Similarly, we should do the same for tobacco use, raising the legal age for the purchase or consumption of tobacco to 25.
We already know prohibition is impossible, but raising the legal age would hopefully help most people make better decisions.”
To read comments regarding this statement go to: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080831/OPINION02/808310642/1087/OPINION02
Lansing State Journal August 31, 2008
“I have read of the list of college and university presidents urging reconsideration of the legal drinking age.
I was an undergraduate at Michigan State University in the '80s and saw the devastation inflicted upon the student population by alcohol. I saw brilliant students who could not handle the transition from rules 24/7 to the anything goes atmosphere of college life. Many college-age students are not ready to use alcohol responsibly.
The problem is, the drinking age of 21 is actually too low.
Older undergraduates buy for younger undergraduates, effectively negating the drinking age on most campuses. I know that was how I drank at MSU.
I think the better idea would be to raise the drinking age to 25, greatly limiting the number of legal buyers on campus.
By 25, most college students would either be out in the work force or in graduate school, where people are forced to act more responsibly than they are in college.
Most alcoholics start young; many start in college. It would seem that if we could postpone drinking until most people were out of college, we would lower the rate of alcoholism. Similarly, we should do the same for tobacco use, raising the legal age for the purchase or consumption of tobacco to 25.
We already know prohibition is impossible, but raising the legal age would hopefully help most people make better decisions.”
To read comments regarding this statement go to: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080831/OPINION02/808310642/1087/OPINION02
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Zumbrota National Night Out
The CHI took part in Zumbrota's Annual National Night Event held on Tuesday, August 5th. Jean Balcome-Dicke, CHI Community Coordinator, Julie Hatch, School Chemical Health Specialist, Bailey Smirnov, CHI Office Assistance and Howie, CHI Mascot were all present to help Zumbrota Celebrate this unique crime and drug prevention National event!NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:
Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Along with the traditional display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, cities, towns and neighborhoods 'celebrate' NNO with a variety of events and activities such as:block parties,
cookouts,
visits from local police and sheriff departments
parades, exhibits,
flashlight walks,
contests, and
youth programs.
National Night Out has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation. Plus, the benefits your community will derive from National Night Out will most certainly extend well beyond the one night.
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