Teens who drink with parents may still develop alcohol problems

Jan 28, 2010
Issues: Underage drinking
Drug type: Alcohol
Despite the research on the negative effects of alcohol use on young people, many parents still believe that teen drinking is a right of passage. Many take the approach of trying to teach responsible drinking by letting their teenagers have alcohol at home. However, a new study published in the latest issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, shows that this approach is ineffective.

In a study of 428 Dutch families, researchers found that the more teenagers were allowed to drink at home, the more they drank outside of home as well. What's more, teens who drank under their parents' watch or on their own had an elevated risk of developing alcohol-related problems. Drinking problems included trouble with school work, missed school days and getting into fights with other people, among other issues.

The findings, say the researchers, put into question the advice of some experts who recommend that parents drink with their teenage children to teach them how to drink responsibly — with the aim of limiting their drinking outside of the home.
That advice is common in the Netherlands, where the study was conducted, but it is based more on experts' reasoning than on scientific evidence, according to Dr. Haske van der Vorst, the lead researcher on the study.

"The idea is generally based on common sense," says van der Vorst, of Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands. "For example, the thinking is that if parents show good behavior — here, modest drinking — then the child will copy it. Another assumption is that parents can control their child's drinking by drinking with the child." But the current findings suggest that is not the case.

Based on this and earlier studies, van der Vorst says, "I would advise parents to prohibit their child from drinking, in any setting or on any occasion."

The study included 428 families with two children between the ages of 13 and 15. Parents and teens completed questionnaires on drinking habits at the outset and again one and two years later.

The researchers found that, in general, the more teens drank at home, the more they tended to drink elsewhere; the reverse was also true, with out-of-home drinking leading to more drinking at home. In addition, teens who drank more often, whether in or out of the home, tended to score higher on a measure of problem drinking two years later.

The findings, according to van der Vorst, suggest that teen drinking begets more drinking — and, in some cases, alcohol problems — regardless of where and with whom they drink.

"If parents want to reduce the risk that their child will become a heavy drinker or problem drinker in adolescence they should try to postpone the age at which their child starts drinking," the researcher noted.

11th Annual Chemical Health Forum - Marijuana: Beyond Reefer Madness

The 11th Annual Chemical Health Forum will focus onthe resurgence of marijuana use among adolescents, and how this phenomenon impacts those who work in the fields of education, science, medicine and law.

The day long workshop will feature important topics and information for those who work with youth. Presentations will include:

• Marijuana, Law, Science and Medicine
• Trafficking, Teens and Trouble
• MindUP! Activities from the Hawn Foundation Program
• Marijuana Use in the communities of color
• Chemical Health INiterventions with Adolescents
• Chemical Use & Sobriety from an Adolescent Perspective: Featuring a Teen Panel
• A Personal Success Story from a Recovering Addict

The workshop is co-sponsored by the Hennepin County Children's Mental Health Collaborative (HCCMHC).

Who Should Attend: Educators; Counselors and Mental Health Professionals; Clergy; and anyone who works with Adolescents
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Time: Registration: 8am
Workshop: 8:30am - 3:30pm
Location: The PREP Center at District 287
1820 Xenium Lane North
Plymouth, MN 55441
CEU's: Six
Also: Education Administrative Clock Hours
MN Board of Behavioral Health & Therapy LADC
Registration Fee: $65 (includes coffee, lunch and materials)
To Register: Go to: www.district287.org/index.php?submenu=All_events&src=gendocs&ref=EventsList_chrono&category=TeachingLearning_PREP

Federal Ban on Fruit-Flavored Cigarettes.

Flavored Tobacco
On September 22, 2009 a ban on cigarettes containing certain characterizing flavors went into effect. The ban, authorized by the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is part of a national effort by FDA to reduce smoking in America.
FDA’s ban on candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes highlights the importance of reducing the number of children who start to smoke, and who become addicted to dangerous tobacco products. FDA is also examining options for regulating both menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products other than cigarettes.
According to the act
…a cigarette or any of its component parts (including the tobacco, filter, or paper) shall not contain, as a constituent (including a smoke constituent) or additive, an artificial or natural flavor (other than tobacco or menthol) or an herb or spice, including strawberry, grape, orange, clove, cinnamon, pineapple, vanilla, coconut, licorice, cocoa, chocolate, cherry, or coffee, that is a characterizing flavor of the tobacco product or tobacco smoke
Any company who continues to make, ship or sell such products may be subject to FDA enforcement actions. You are encouraged to report any company that sells cigarettes with these certain characterizing flavors.

The Power of Alcohol Marketing

The British Medical Association has called for all alcohol advertising and marketing to be banned.The doctors' lobby group says the techniques being deployed are fuelling the ever-increasing rate of alcohol consumption.

Is marketing really that powerful? It seems staggering to think that just a few years ago cider was considered an unfashionable drink.To many, it was the tipple of choice for teenagers in the park or drunks on the street. But nowadays it is impossible to get away from the colourful array of brands piled high on the supermarket shelves and in the fridges behind bars.

See the full article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8244105.stm

Binge Drinking Affects Even Sober Brain, Study Finds

Self-reported binge drinkers performed worse on cognitive tests compared to non-bingers, even when they were sober, the Los Angeles Times reported Aug. 11.

Researchers at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain said the findings hinted that binge drinking could affect the brain in ways similar to that observed among alcoholics.

"We found that healthy young university students -- meaning those with no alcohol use disorder, alcohol dependence or associated psychiatric disorders -- who engaged in binge drinking showed anomalies during the execution of a task involving visual working memory, despite correct execution of the task, in comparison with young non binge drinkers. They required greater attentional processing during the task in order to carry it out correctly," said researcher Alberto Crego. "Healthy adolescents and young people who partake in intermittent consumption of large amounts of alcohol -- otherwise known as binge drinking -- even only once or twice a week, and who do not display chronic alcohol consumption or alcohol dependence may nonetheless suffer alterations at the electrophysiological level in attentional and working memory processing."

The study, which compared 42 binge drinkers to 53 other students, was published online in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Article obtained from: http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/summaries/2009/binge-drinking-affects-even.html

College drinking: What parents need to know

Pre-gaming, beer pong and jello shots are as much a part of college life as fraternities, football and finals. Will your student drink? The answer is probably yes so, as his parent, there are some important things you need to know.

What's the big deal?

The big deal is this: It is estimated that drinking by college students aged 18-24 contributes to an estimated 1,700 student deaths, 599,000 injuries, and 97,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape each year. Those are serious consequences. That bears repeating: 1,700 student deaths, 599,000 injuries, and 97,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape each year. And that's not all. Unsafe sex is a big problem too. Research indicates that some 400,000 students reported unprotected sex after drinking and another 100,000 report having been too drunk to know if they consented to sex. And there's significant issues with health/suicide, property damage, drunk driving and vandalism.

What is your college's alcohol policy?

Most colleges and universities no longer turn a blind eye to underage drinking and have instituted strict policies on consumption and particularly on the sale of alcohol to a minor. A 2002 Task Force on College Drinking, supported by the National Institutes of Alcohol Abuse, put in motion an extensive series of prevention and awareness programs that have been adopted by hundreds of colleges.

You and your child should be aware of his college's policies regarding alcohol. Check the school's website, or for a state-by-state listing, go to www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/policies, as policies vary by school. In Virginia, George Mason University prohibits alcohol in any first year residential area, regardless of age of the freshman. James Madison University's policy reminds students that underage possession or purchase of alcohol is punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a fine of $2500, or both and possible loss of a driver's license for up to a year. The University of Virginia has an extensive policy regarding alcohol on campus; their student-athletes are subject to additional policies as well.

It's academic

As a parent, you should know this startling statistic: about one-third of first-year students fail to enroll for their second year.

While there are many reasons why kids leave college, alcohol can be one of them.
About a quarter of college students end up with problems in school due to drinking including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers and receiving lower grades overall. Experts urge parents to be especially vigilant to your freshman's experiences during the first six weeks of the fall semester. All of that new-found free time and easy access to alcohol sometimes leads to excessive drinking. Drinking too much interferes with adapting to campus life in all kinds of ways.

Teach, don't preach

You may not be able to moderate your child's drinking in any direct way but you can help him to understand the possible consequences of irresponsible drinking. Put preaching aside and start teaching. Make sure he or she knows how alcohol can lead to date rape and violence. Teach him and especially her about BAC (blood alcohol content) and how it relates to their size. Make certain he knows the law and penalties for:
underage drinking
public drunkenness
using a fake id
driving under the influence

For more info:

A comprehensive website on college drinking, with statistics, research, college policies, education and awareness programs, a BAC calculator and more: www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov

Article obtained from: http://www.examiner.com/x-16039-DC-Parenting-College-Students-Examiner~y2009m7d20-College-drinking-binge-drinking-student-use-and-abuse

Goodhue CHI Council Picnic

The Goodhue Chemical Health Initiative Council sponsored a Picnic on Monday July 13, 2009. Over 100 people attended for free food, door prizes, volleyball, and bean bag toss. Howie was also there to join in on the fun!