WHY DO SOME ADOLESCENTS DRINK?
As children move from adolescence to young adulthood, they encounter dramatic physical, emotional, and lifestyle changes. Developmental transitions, such as puberty and increasing independence, have been associated with alcohol use. So in a sense, just being an adolescent may be a key risk factor not only for starting to drink but also for drinking dangerously.

If you or a loved one has a drinking or drug problem, you can visit:
http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/
http://www.aa.org/?Media=PlayFlash
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/index.asp
http://www.teen-drug-abuse.org/teen-abuse-treatment.htm

Educate a loved one about Substance Abuse:
http://mvparents.com/
http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/
http://www.parentingteensresourcenetwork.org/
http://www.thecoolspot.gov
http://www.freevibe.com/
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/
http://www.teenlineonline.org

PARENTS: WAYS TO PREVENT IT:

1. EDUCATE YOURSELF and/or your teen/ family members about the risks. Prescription drugs can be just as dangerous and addictive as "street drugs," and can be lethal. Talk to your teen about the dangers of these drugs.

2. KEEP TRACK OF QUANTITIES. Take note of how many pills are in a bottle or pill packet and ask other households your teen visits to do the same, such as grandparents or other friends. Don’t forget about refills. If you find you have to refill medication for a chronic condition more often than recommended, there could be a real problem—as someone may be knowingly stealing your medication.

3. TALK TO FRIENDS, relatives and school administration. Make sure your friends and relatives know about the risks, too, and encourage them to regularly monitor their own medicine cabinets. If you don’t know the parents of your child’s circle of friends, then make an effort to get to know them, and get on the same page about rules and expectations. Follow up with your teen’s school administration to find out what they are doing to address issues of Rx and OTC drug abuse on campus.

4. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY. Make sure you and your teen use Rx drugs only as prescribed by a medical doctor and take only the recommended dosages as indicated for both Rx and OTC drugs. If you are directed to finish the prescription, then do so as advised. If you have any questions about how to take a prescription drug, call your family physician or pharmacist.

5. DISCARD OLD OR UNUSED MEDICATIONS. Unused prescription drugs should be disposed of in the trash. It is best to add an undesirable substance (like used coffee grounds or kitty litter) and put the mixture in an impermeable, non-descript container like an empty can or bag. Unless the directions say otherwise, do NOT flush medications down the drain or toilet because the chemicals can taint the water supply. Also, remove any personal, identifiable information from prescription bottles or pill packages before you throw them away.

6. MONITOR YOUR TEENS TIME ONLINE. Check browser histories and set a time limit for how long your teen can be online. For more information on how to monitor your child's online activities, visit theAntiDrug.com's online tutorial.

7. BE OBSERVANT. If you find your teen is quickly going through cough syrup, or you find empty bottles and pill packages among your child’s personal effects, talk with her/him, listen carefully, and determine if there is a problem. If there is a problem, call your family physician immediately.

8. FIND OTHER WAYS to relieve stress and have fun. Many teens point to personal and family stress, as well as boredom, as reasons they abuse Rx and OTC drugs. Help your teen find other ways to relieve pressures, for example through positive activities that interest your child, positive friendships, or by simply listening and offering guidance. Also, help your teen find constructive ways to pass time and set a good example yourself.

1. Be there for your teen when he/she needs to get out of a bad situation. Be the scapegoat: ‘I can’t do that, my parents would kill me!’ Or be the parent who will pick up your teen without repercussions if he finds the party he’s gone too has drugs available or her date has been drinking.

2. Get to know your teen’s friends and their parents on a first name basis.This will help you know what your teen is doing.

3. Keep connected in the after school hours.If you can’t be home with your teen, call and leave notes. Have another adult supervise your teen or sign him up for an after school program. If these things aren’t possible, establish a routine for your teenager and keep him busy during this time.

4. Talk to your teen often about drugs. Use ice breakers from television shows or the radio in the car. Remember these are conversations, not lectures.

5. Get your teen involved in extra-curricular activities. Schools offer sports or clubs and community organizations offer classes and youth groups. These will help him mold his identity in a positive way and give him less time doing nothing and becoming bored. Studies have shown teens that have less time to just hang out are less likely to do drugs.

6. Ask questions when your teen makes plans to go out. Who will he be with, where is he going, what will he be doing, etc. Then check up on him. Call other parents and do this together.

7. Be a role model. If you drink, drink responsibly - and don’t ever use illegal drugs.

8. Unite your family against drugs using strong family beliefs. Establish that your family doesn’t use drugs. Not that you will shun your child should he make a mistake, but that your family believes there are other healthier ways to enjoy life and fix problems rather than escaping into a drug haze.

9. Connect with your teen by doing things together as a family. Make this a routine outing and have your teen help plan it. Eat family meals together. Studies have shown that kids who enjoy dinner together with their parents on a normal basis are less likely to become involved with drugs.

10. Drop any baggage you may be carrying.Don’t allow the mistakes you made as a teenager or young adult to influence your teen in a negative way. Tap into the mature adult you’ve become and let the past go.

Stimulate Your Mind! Simple Things You Can Do To Fill Your Time Instead of Drinking or doing Drugs:
Draw, Join a Book Club, Surround people that dont do drugs/drink, Cook, bake, Exercise, Swim, Ride your bike, Organize your room/ house, Teach yourself how to play an Instrument, Meditate, Dance to your favorite music, Start a Journal, Write a Song, Knit, Crochet, Take a walk, Voulenteer to Help Others, Join a Support Group, Talk to People who have overcome addiction problems, Start a daily list to plan your day, Spend your time with family or friends that can help you.

What can you do to help someone who has a drinking problem? Be a real friend. You might even save a life. Encourage your friend to stop or seek professional help. For information and referrals, call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686

Alcohol can kill you. Drinking large amounts of alcohol at one time or very rapidly can cause alcohol poisoning, which can lead to coma or even death. Driving and drinking also can be deadly. In 2003, 31 percent of drivers age 15 to 20 who died in traffic accidents had been drinking alcohol.1

Alcohol can hurt you--even if you're not the one drinking. If you're around people who are drinking, you have an increased risk of being seriously injured, involved in car crashes, or affected by violence. At the very least, you may have to deal with people who are sick, out of control, or unable to take care of themselves.

Alcohol affects your brain. Drinking alcohol leads to a loss of coordination, poor judgment, slowed reflexes, distorted vision, memory lapses, and even blackouts.

Alcohol affects your body. Alcohol can damage every organ in your body. It is absorbed directly into your bloodstream and can increase your risk for a variety of life-threatening diseases, including cancer.

FAQ on Alcohol:

Q. Is beer and wine "safer" than liquor?
A. No. One 12-ounce bottle of beer or a 5-ounce glass of wine (about a half-cup) has as much alcohol as a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor. Alcohol can make you drunk and cause you problems no matter how you consume it.

Q. Why can't teens drink if their parents can?
A. Teens’ brains and bodies are still developing; alcohol use can cause learning problems or lead to adult alcoholism. People who begin drinking by age 15 are five times more likely to abuse or become dependent on alcohol than those who begin drinking after age 20.

Q. How can I say no to alcohol? I'm afraid I won't fit in.
A. It's easier to refuse than you think. Try: "No thanks," "I don't drink," or "I'm not interested." Remember that the majority of teens don't drink alcohol. You're in good company when you're one of them.

How can you tell if a friend has a drinking problem? Sometimes it's tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may have a problem with alcohol:

• Getting drunk on a regular basis
• Lying about how much alcohol he or she is using
• Believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun
• Having frequent hangovers
• Feeling run-down, depressed, or even suicidal
• Having "blackouts"--forgetting what he or she did while drinking

The Bottom Line:
If you know someone who has a problem with alcohol, urge him or her to stop or get help. If you drink--stop! The longer you ignore the real facts, the more chances you take with your life. It's never too late. Talk to your parents, a doctor, a counselor, a teacher, or another adult you trust. Do it today!

Reasons why it is hard for some people to resist pure pressure:

• are afraid of being rejected by others
• want to be liked and don’t want to lose a friend
• don’t want to be made fun of
• don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings
• aren’t sure of what they really want
• don’t know how to get out of the situation

Sometimes resisting isn’t easy, but you can do it with practice and a little know-how. Keep trying, even if you don’t get it right at first. You can resist alcohol or anything else you may feel pressured into. These tips will make resisting a little easier. - Stand up straight - Make Eye Contact - Say how you feel - Don’t make excuses - Stick up for yourself & others Print it, cut it out, and stash it somewhere safe where you can peek at it if you need a refresher.

Simple Strategies to Keep Anger at Bay
Relaxation: Simple relaxation tools, such as deep breathing and relaxing imagery, can help calm down angry feelings. There are books and courses that can teach you relaxation techniques, and once you learn the techniques, you can call upon them in any situation. If you are involved in a relationship where both partners are hot-tempered, it might be a good idea for both of you to learn these techniques.

Some simple steps you can try: Breathe deeply, from your diaphragm; breathing from your chest won't relax you. Picture your breath coming up from your "gut."

Slowly repeat a calm word or phrase such as "relax," "take it easy." Repeat it to yourself while breathing deeply. Use imagery; visualize a relaxing experience, from either your memory or your imagination.

Nonstrenuous, slow yoga-like exercises can relax your muscles and make you feel much calmer. Practice these techniques daily. Practice and learn to use them automatically when you're in a tense situation.

Meditation: www.abookbygod.com or www.iamgodbook.com

Write your feelings down instead of taking it out on other people