Teen Talk: Underage Drinking

We are now in the middle of another sizzling Texas summer. Yard work and grilling on the back porch are weekly events in my neighborhood. There are children outside in the evenings chasing dogs and soccer balls. Students that graduated from high school have already headed off to college. A recent study from the University of Rhode Island has shown that this is a time when teens tend to increase their alcohol consumption. In fact, many American teenagers begin to drink at the age of 15. By the time they leave for college, most have considerable drinking experience. Parents should take the opportunity to have conversations about alcohol throughout high school, but it is never too late to begin a dialogue concerning drinking. More than 1800 college students die each year in alcohol related crashes. 750,000 are involved in alcohol related physical or sexual assaults. It is important for parents to make known their beliefs and guidelines as well as to provide clear and fair consequences associated with crossing the line. Research shows this combination of factors decreases alcohol use and problems all through adolescence and into college. Parents have so many tools available to communicate with their students now. I proudly admit to texting 748 times last month. Of course that is nothing compared to my 17 year olds 2332 rambling banters. Adolescents tend to increase their alcohol use the summer before entering college and during their first semester at college. Research has proven that parental involvement influences the decisions students make. This internalization of values, attitudes and expectations continue to exert a positive effect. These students are less likely to transition to heavy drinking or experience alcohol-related problems. This same research also shows students overestimate how much their peers are drinking, and correcting this false impression results in lower levels of alcohol use and alcohol problems. So go ahead and be bossy but informative. Set the standard and then hold firm. Let your teens know you care by communicating in a way that they will listen. Who knows, I may just twitter or update my Facebook status to get their attention…


MaryAnn Contreras, RN
Injury Prevention Coordinator