Why Teenagers Drink
Were you a complete angel during your teenage years? If you can honestly answer this question with a resounding, "Yes! Absolutely!" then you are in the minority. If you were like most people, you probably tried alcohol at least once.
Teenagers drink because they are curious about alcohol. They want to feel grown up, and they want to try new things. They drink because they want to fit in with their peers. Sometimes, they drink because their parents have a lifestyle that revolves around alcohol consumption, and alcohol is readily available to them. Eventually, they drink for many of the same reasons adults overdo it - drinking is a method of escape from reality.
If you have caught your teenager drinking, sit down and have a face to face conversation about why the drinking has occurred. As you do this, be sure that you are not confrontational, negative, or abusive. Be matter-of-fact, and be realistic. Before you can stop the problem, you need to learn why it has occurred.
What to do About Teenage Drinking: Experimentation
In some cases, teenage drinking is simply experimentation. Kids do try smoking cigarettes, using drugs, drinking alcohol, and doing other things that they know they shouldn't do. Often, the illness, headaches, and other physical consequences of experimentation prove that they should have listened to their parents, and never tried these things in the first place. If this is the case, simply talk to your kids about the consequences that can occur from using alcohol and other chemicals. Talk to them about other ways to fit in with their friends. Be sure they have plenty of positive activities to fill their hours, and experimentation will be much less likely to lead to alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency.
What to do If the Problem is Serious
Sometimes parents have no clue where their kids are, or what they are up to. Yes, you are busy with work, and you have lots of other responsibilities, but your kids have got to come first. If you are a very busy person, and you have suddenly discovered that your teenager has an alcohol abuse problem, then there are a few different things you can do.
First, do your best to find out what precipitated the problem, and then, find out where your child is getting his or her alcohol, if possible. If you keep alcohol in your home, then you will need to get rid of it. Again, do not be confrontational, and do your best to stay level-headed about the whole thing. If your child is under the influence, wait until the buzz has worn off before you begin your intervention.
And, be sure to take the problem seriously. If you have discovered that your teenager has a long-standing relationship with alcohol, then serious intervention is required. Underage drinking leads quickly to addiction, and it can also cause delayed physical and emotional development.
The effects of alcohol can do more than simply reduce alertness and perception - teens develop addictions more quickly than adults do, and they are also much more likely to engage in risky behaviours while under the influence. Alcohol and drug use is the leading cause of teen death or severe disability as a result of car crashes, drowning, and other accidents, and teens who use alcohol on a regular basis are more likely to engage in unprotected sex or criminal behaviour. They are more likely to commit suicide, too.
Discuss Alcohol and Drugs with Your Teenager. As difficult as this may seem, it is important to find out what has happened. Let your teen talk about why he or she decided to use alcohol, and do your best to discover who provided the alcohol or other substances. If you have a close relationship with your kids, the process will be easier. Be sure to share your concerns about the problems that alcohol and drugs can have. Try to come up with good examples, and see if you can come up with some situations to discuss, which illustrate the consequences of alcohol or drug abuse.Make Your Expectations Clear. Be clear about expectations for the future. Ask your teen to stop drinking, and find a way to replace that behaviour with something more positive. Fostering creativity, helping your teen gain valuable life skills, and putting a stop to his or her desire to drink should be at the forefront.
Do Not Resort to Negativity. While you do want to get your point across, you also want to maintain or strengthen your relationship with your teen as you end his or her relationship with alcohol or other substances. Often, professional counselling and other services can help you to stay positive as you and your teenager overcome this problem together.
Get the Support You Need. Perhaps your family doctor can help you to explain the short and long-term health consequences that can arise from alcohol abuse. And, you may find it helpful to contact your local Al-Anon or Alateen chapter. Alcohol abuse affects the entire family - it is a social problem as much as it is an individual problem. You don't have to deal with it on your own!
Preventing Future Teenage Drinking
Once you have the problem at hand under control, you will need to come up with a strategy for preventing drinking in the future.
First, and foremost, you must be aware of where your teen is, and you've got to know what he or she is up to at all times. If you don't already know the signs and symptoms of alcohol or drug abuse, then you should learn about them as soon as possible, and watch for any tell-tale behaviours that may develop.
Second, you should do all you can to help your teenager gain a sense of responsibility, as well as a sense of excitement and hope about the future. Let your child know that he or she is loved, and be sure that you enjoy plenty of positive interaction together. The quality of your relationship has a lot to do with the success of your plan to prevent future incidents.
Finally, give your teenager the life skills he or she needs to cope with stress. Help him or her come up with strategies for saying no. Empower your kids to make good choices, as to who their friends are, and as to how they are spending their time. Alcohol abuse is an unfortunate fact of life in our society; but, that doesn't mean that you should bury your head in the sand. Now that you know how to deal with teenage drinking, it's time to start talking with your teens.
Lyn is a paramedic and has seen first hand the devastation caused by the breakdown in communication between a parent and a teenager. She has seen a beaten child, an overdosed teenager, a dead child, or even a beaten parent.
Lyn is also a single mother of four boys. She has raised those boys as a couple and as a single. Lyn has experienced personally the heartache and despair when her teenager was on drugs and alcohol. The hopeless feeling that goes with the breakdown in communication between a parent and their teen.
Lyn has made many mistakes in parenting, but now has turned her family environment around. She utilises her expertise from her personal and professional experience to help other parents and teenagers. Lyn has developed strategies to help parents re-connect with their teenagers and re-communicate in a way that brings back a happier fun environment for both teens and parents.
To learn more go to Lyn's website at http://www.parentingisforever.com/ for FREE tips on parenting strategies