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Prom & Graduation: talk with teens about safe, sober choices this year
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04/28/15 LICKING COUNTY, OHIO – Licking County’s prom and graduation season can be a dangerous time for teens. The Licking County Health Department’s Safe Communities Coalition is reminding parents to talk with teens about safe, sober choices this year.
“Young drivers are less likely than adults to drink and drive, but their crash risk is substantially higher when they do,” said Carrie Minor, Safe Communities coordinator. “Young drivers are also more likely to not wear their seat belts and drive drowsy putting them at an even higher risk for getting in a car crash and having serious injuries.”
Parent involvement is the key to stopping underage drinking.
According to the 2012 - 2013 Licking County Pride Survey, 36 percent of 12th-grade students in the county reported that it was “fairly easy or very easy” to get alcohol. Additionally, 44 percent of those same students surveyed, who reported drinking alcohol, said they were most likely to use alcohol at a friend’s house.
Some parents assume permitting children to drink with their friends at their home fosters responsible alcohol use and makes alcohol less alluring, according to Minor. However, data strongly contradicts this idea and studies have shown that teens who get alcohol from a parent are twice as likely to drink and binge drink.
Other risky behaviors to discuss with teens.
While drinking is the risky behavior that draws the most attention around prom and graduation season, behaviors like not wearing a seat belt, speeding, driving with too many passengers, distracted driving, and drowsy driving are also topics to discuss with teens.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor-vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens due to their inexperience and immaturity with driving. When talking to teens about drinking and driving, parents should include other risky driving behaviors that could lead to tragic consequences in the conversation.
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15 things parents can do:
- Make sure you know your child’s plans and communicate with any parents who will be supervising.
- Take advantage of how teens like to communicate. Text message your child reminding them to make smart decisions and not to drink alcohol.
- Do not allow your teen to have parties with alcohol on your property.
- Network with other parents; let them know you don’t want alcohol available to your child.
- Talk and listen to your child. Be straightforward with them about the impact of alcohol. Make sure to listen before jumping to conclusions. Your child may be trying to tell you something that they are uncomfortable with.
- If you choose to use alcohol, use it responsibly. Remember, you are your child’s role model.
- Notify law enforcement about any establishments or people providing alcohol to minors.
- If your teen is having a party, establish basic ground rules like sticking to a guest list and asking people to leave if they bring alcohol onto your property.
- Stay home during any party your teen hosts to provide adequate supervision and make sure you know what is going on.
- Contact parents of anyone who arrives under the influence at your teen’s party and never allow anyone to drive home under the influence.
- Know where your teen will be, how long they will be there and what will be happening.
- Know how your teen will get to and from a party and tell your child never to ride with a driver who has been drinking.
- Set the time your teen is expected to be home.
- If your teen is going to an after-prom event, encourage them to not drive if they are too tired and call you for a ride home.
- If something seems suspicious, check it out for yourself. If you still have concerns, call your local law enforcement.
For more information visit www.madd.org or Our Futures in Licking County at http://ourfutures.org/.
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