Posts Tagged ‘underage drinking’
Underage Drinking – How Teens Can Develop an Alcohol Use Disorder Before Age 21
Underage drinking is one of the key risk factors for developing an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol use disorder is the umbrella term for drinking patterns that include binge drinking, heavy drinking, alcohol abuse and alcoholism. It is often considered a right of passage; something most teens and young adults under 21 go through. As such, the…
Read MoreMixed Messages On Teen Drinking
What happens when adults/parents send mixed messages on teen drinking? While their intent is clear — keep teens safe — the way a teen hears a parent or an adult’s message can have an adverse result. Yet, saying nothing doesn’t work, either. To help parents/adults with some of these very important conversations, I’ve provided three…
Read MoreBrain Development and Substance Use
Brain development – the growth of the brain from the time we are in utero until we mature (early-to-mid 20s) – is one of the lesser-known factors that has a dramatic influence on how our brains wire and map. And this influence and the resulting brain wiring and mapping have a dramatic influence on how…
Read MoreWould a Lower Drinking Age Solve the Underage Drinking Problem
There is a perception in America that the cause of underage binge drinking is the drinking age. The perception continues that the Europeans do not have the problems with underage binge drinking on par with American youth because the Europeans have “taught” their youth to drink from an early age, and they don’t hold alcohol…
Read MoreUnderage Drinking – 5 Things Parents Should Consider To Keep the Message Clear
Underage drinking – sometimes a small change in how parents think or talk about or model drinking can make a big difference. “If you’re going to drink, just don’t drive.” “At least when I host the party and take away the keys, I know they’re safe.” “Drinking at high school parties is a rite of…
Read MoreTeen Drinking – Should You Still Try Talking About It When They Come Home for the Holidays?
Teen Drinking – what do (or can) you say about drinking to a college freshman home for the holidays? Not only that, but what do you say to a senior in high school who’s finally in the home stretch to graduation? This is a tough position for parents. I know it was for me. But…
Read More“What Were You Thinking?” – Understanding the Teen Brain
The teen brain. How many of us have found ourselves absolutely baffled by our teen’s behavior and in frustration, lashed out yelling, “What were you thinking?” or “Why did you do that!,” after another of their “stupid stunts?” How any of us recall our own “stupid stunts” and being asked the same questions, with no better…
Read MoreA Different Kind of Conversation About Underage Drinking
Broaching the topic of underage drinking with your teen — now that’s a conversation stopper! It’s that time of year — graduating high school seniors off to college in the fall, 19 year old college students home for the summer, and parents concerned about how to talk to them about drinking at this stage of the…
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