April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and April 5th is National Alcohol Screening Day. Getting kids involved in prevention efforts can be the key to keeping them alcohol free
What is it? The purpose of Alcohol Awareness Month is to draw attention to the problems related to alcohol abuse and to get people in touch with resources that can help. Free, confidential alcohol screenings will be held across the country on April 5th. Click here to find a screening location near you. These screenings will help people determine if their alcohol use is problematic. At the screening site, participants will also receive educational materials and have the chance to speak to a healthcare professional about alcohol treatment. You can also use this link to access an online screening tool.
The problem. Many people typically think of alcohol abuse as an adult problem. However, according to one study cited on the NASD website, “Approximately 20% of 8th graders, 35% of 10th graders, and 48% of 12th graders report having consumed alcohol during the past month.” (Monitoring the Future: National Results on Adolescent Drug Use. Bachman, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003.) That’s a lot of our kids. Because of the nature of alcohol use, much of it goes unnoticed and unchecked by adults. Unconcerned or unaware of the health risks, lacking in other coping skills, and eager to find peer acceptance, many teens are involved in regular alcohol use, which puts them at greater risk for alcoholism, as well as related problems like drunk driving, sexual assault, and further drug use.
Who is at risk for alcohol use and abuse? Often, kids who experience depression and anxiety may use alcohol in an attempt to self-medicate their pain. Kids isolated from their family system without other positive connections may seek involvement with alcohol or drug-involved peer groups. Kids with pervasive family or school-related stress, poor coping skills, and family members with drug or alcohol problems are also at increased risk. However, though some groups may be at increased risk, alcohol use among teens is such a pervasive problem that all teens can benefit from prevention activities.
How to get kids involved. Reinforce the prevention education kids are receiving at school. Teens are great at coming up with ideas, but here are some to get you started:
- Ask kids to research the dangers of alcohol use and present their findings to the group in the form of a skit, poster, power point presentation, or other creative method.
- Have kids counter the effects of alcohol advertising by creating their own “anti-alcohol” ads.
- Develop role play situations which require kids to use assertiveness and refusal skills to deal with pressures to drink.
- Walk kids through a decision making model that requires them to discuss the possible consequences of choosing to use alcohol vs. choosing not to use.
- Have kids share their own stories about how alcohol use has impacted their life or the lives of people close to them.
- Strengthen both leadership skills and communication skills by asking kids to design an outreach presentation for younger children.
Be sure to check out the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information for more information and resources.
