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"As much as you may want to be your teen’s ‘best friend’, it’s more important to be a responsible parent." Drinkwise |
What to do when your teenagers are tempted to try alcohol, or other drugs, or pressure you to buy them alcohol for a party or when another parent illegally gives your child alcohol when they are underage.
Paul Dillon
You may not believe you have much of an influence over your teenager but your children are going to learn an awful lot about your attitudes and beliefs towards alcohol and drug use from these type of conversations. Paul Dillon
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At a glance Paul Dillon suggests ...
# don't try to cover everything in one talk # use non-threatening situations to have conversations eg in car # start conversations based on what you have seen in the media or in TV shows/movies Read More ....
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Dr Andrew Rochford
DrinkWise - an independent, not-for-profit organisation - has developed a 5 Point Plan to provide practical advice on how to be a positive influence and delay your kid’s introduction to alcohol.
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D: Discuss the issues
E: Educate by example L: Listen and engage A: A good relationship Y: Your expectations For Parents: * Binge drinking and your teen * Developing a consistent approach to teen drinking * Combating peer pressure – how to help your teen Read more on the DRINKWISE website HERE |
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Prof Ian Hickie
Executive Director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney
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Professor Ian Hickie explains how from the ages of 12-21 the front part of the brain continues to develop and that alcohol can disrupt this critical phase of brain growth.
Alcohol, which is a toxic substance, kills nerve cell connections and if teens are exposed to alcohol during this pivotal time of development. His advice is that teenagers should avoid being introduced to alcohol for as long as possible. READ MORE |
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Dr Justin Coulson
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Confronting Teenage Drinking ...
At a glance Dr Coulson suggests ... DON'T # talk about it right away - wait until next morning # make rash thretas you wont follow through on # try to 'pycho-analysis' behaviour - kids hate that DO # stay calm but make clear you will be talking about it # follow through and have the difficult conversation # reassure them you will always be there for them |
Resisting pressure from your teen
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Confronting teenage drinking
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Websites
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Resources for both young people planning for a night out and parents.
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Books
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Teenagers, Alcohol and Drugs - Paul Dillon
Written in response to the stories Paul Dillon has heard over 25 years in alcohol and other drug education, it shows parents how to talk to their children in a respectful and non-judgemental way , along with how to help their kids negotiate a minefield of misinformation and social pressure. Read Extract |
