| | | | Talk to Your Teen About Alcohol |
By Darlene Zagata
The teenage years are difficult for both parents and the teens themselves. We can no longer treat them like babies but they are not yet adults either. Our teenagers want to be treated like adults. They no longer want to be told what to do. They want the privileges of adulthood but are not quite yet prepared to accept the responsibilities that come with being adult. As parents it is our duty to educate them as best as we can for their transition into adulthood.
As much as we may dread the thought or even be in denial of the fact, our teens are likely to try alcohol and even drugs. It is easy to succumb to peer pressure especially when they are tempted on a daily basis. Even the kids that seems least likely to succumb to temptation, often do. Once they’ve tried alcohol, many may continue to drink. Others may not like it. They may find that drinking isn’t so much fun after all. They may even wonder why some of their friends think drinking is so great.
We need to be open and honest with our teens. We need to talk to teenagers about alcohol. Kids will experiment with alcohol. They will experience the effects but along with the elation and giddiness they will also get sick and vomit. Hopefully, those that do get sick will find that there’s certainly nothing special about nausea, dizziness, vomiting and a major headache. In itself, the ill feeling that can result from drinking should be enough of an incentive to abstain from its use. But we must realize that it is not just the alcohol that teens are attracted to but also the thrill and the desire to do as grownups do.
They may feel that they are taking control but do not realize that alcohol can actually cause you to lose control. Alcohol affects the emotions, behavior and reflexes. In the mind and life of a teenager, it is very important to fit in; for some teens, drinking is a way to do that. If we could teach our children the importance of being yourself rather than to be like everyone else, maybe we would have a lot less people going through life playing follow the leader. But that is a difficult concept to get across considering that we live in a society that conditions us to have the latest fashion, hairstyle, car, etc. In a sense, we are subconsciously conditioned to be like everyone else and by doing so lose a bit of our individuality and uniqueness. Anyone that differs simply doesn’t fit in.
We have to be able to define that grey area between social interaction without losing individuality or integrity. Teens that have parents that drink on a regular basis may start drinking at a fairly early age. When confronted about drinking such teens may simply point out that Mom and Dad do it. But not all teens that have a parent or parents with a drinking problem, react by following in their footsteps. Some teenagers that are exposed to drunken adults staggering, vomiting or passing out may become disgusted at such behavior and choose not to drink.
We cannot predict whether our teens will experiment with alcohol or not but we can do our best to educate them about the dangers of alcohol. One of those dangers includes drinking and driving. Every year a staggering number of deaths are attributed to alcohol related driving accidents. The lives of too many teens as well as children and people of all ages are cut short because of drunk drivers. Do your best to ensure that your teen understands the importance of not driving while under the influence of alcohol. It can never be repeated enough. Also, make certain you stress the point of never getting into a vehicle with someone that is or has been drinking. Open communication with your teen is the first step on the road to safety.
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