Posts Tagged ‘Alcohol Abuse’

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Healthy Relationship with Parents Can Prevent Teen Drinking Problems

Posted on Aug 23, 2010

Alcohol abuse in young people is becoming a major problem to the point that the American Academy of Pediatrics are advising pediatricians to start screening teenagers and even sixth graders due to the health risks involved. But, how can parents get involved and prevent their teenagers from drinking at such a young age?

Listed below are 4 ways for parents to build a healthy relationship with their teens in the hopes of preventing drinking at an early age.

1. Good Parent-child Relationship

The circumstances in which a child drinks his first drink and how parents deal with it, is critical to building a healthy parent-child relationship. A recent study suggests that teens that have a strong relationship with their parents may start drinking at a later age. Parents’ involvement can also influence both a later drinking age and a high-quality relationship with their teens. The data also revealed that these teens who had a good parent-child relationship also had a lower risk of drinking problems compared with their peers.

2. Trust and Privacy

Trust and privacy is a major issue among parents and teens. Parents need to learn to trust their teenagers and give them some privacy from time to time. If the child doesn’t feel that he or she can confide and trust his/her parents, then the child will shy away from talking to them about anything, including drinking. Also, when in the doctor’s office, teenagers should be given some privacy to communicate one-on-one with their doctor on a confidentially basis without parents’ presence.

3. Communication and Respect

Communication is the key in building a healthy relationship with teens. Talk with them about your family’s history of alcohol or drug use. There’s a genetic connection to alcoholism, and kids should know if they are at risk for alcoholism also. Teenagers should be able to feel that they can discuss their problems with their parents and that their parents respect their feelings.

4. Rules and Prevention

You are still the parents, so there should still be rules. Set some rules and abide by them. Have a no alcohol, drugs, or tobacco until age 21 policy in the household. Talk to them about alcohol and its’ dangers such as drunk driving, drinking laws etc… And keep a close eye on their behavior and the friends they hang out with. Let them know that this is about keeping them safe and not to control their lives.

Alcohol Abuse and its Effects on Teenagers

Research shows that during the teenage year, the brain is in an amazing developmental phase. It shows that the brain growth spurt gives teens remarkable cognitive powers, but also leaves their brains more vulnerable to the damaging effects of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and other harmful substances. Recent research has also shown that the sooner teenagers start drinking alcohol or using drugs; the more likely they are to have problems with academics, jobs, and relationships as adults.

Remember, as parents you play a very important role when it comes to your children’s risk of alcohol abuse. Building a strong and healthy relationship with your children can prevent them from early drinking problems. Your teenager may not show it, but they still view you as their biggest role models!

Alcohol Abuse1 Comment »Alcohol Abuse Parental Guidance

Drunk Driving – Become a designated driver

Posted on Aug 19, 2010

Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol is extremely dangerous and a risk you are taking when you get behind the wheels of a motor vehicle and choose to drive. Drink and drive and you put yourself in danger, other passengers and everyone else around you at risk.

One Day it Will All Come Crashing Down

Maybe not today, or even tomorrow, but one day it will eventually happen. One minute you’ll be having a good ole time drinking, then the next it can all come crashing down on you before you know it. And even though most drunk drivers may make it home safely, without getting caught or causing a fatal car wreck does not change the fact that drunk driving is dangerous and should be taken seriously. And for most, not getting caught reinforces the bad attitude towards driving while intoxicated.

DUI/DWI Lasting Effects

Driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) and getting caught, being arrested and taken to jail, have a long lasting effect on your life. Some of these long lasting effects are:

• The loss of your driver’s license
• Loss of current job and future employment opportunities
• Seizure of your motor vehicle
• Higher auto insurance rates or denial of auto insurance
• Your integrity will be shattered
• Hefty fines which will affect your finances

Getting caught is just the tip of the iceberg, being in a fatal car crash has even more serious consequences like long-term medical problems, death and even life sentences.

Be Responsible – Assign a designated driver

But all of these long lasting effects can be prevented if you drink responsibly and if you’ve had too much to drink, get a designated driver to take you home. A designated driver can be someone who does not drink, someone who didn’t have anything to drink – someone who is sober, or you can call a taxi, or a friend or family member to pick you up and take you home safely.

Public Attitude towards Alcohol Abuse – Personal responsibility

Public attitude needs to change towards alcohol consumption and drunk driving. The nonchalant attitude we see today and making drinking and driving something normal and just a part of life is irresponsible and needs to change. Despite all the DWI laws, a change will not happen unless the general public makes decides to take responsibility for their actions and drink responsibly. The real solution to drinking and driving lies with the people. We have a personal responsibility to ourselves, for each other and every person you stop from driving while under the influence.

Some may argue that the real solution to drunk driving begins with personal responsibility, what is your opinion?

Alcohol Abuse, DUI, DWI, Drunk Driving1 Comment »Alcohol Abuse Designated Driver Drunk Driving DUI DWI

Alcohol Abuse leads to increased suicide rates – Myth or fact?

Posted on Aug 09, 2010

Does Alcohol Abuse lead to increased suicide rates? Is it one of the major causes of suicide? The United States governmental agency that keeps track of mental health issues say that it is a fact and not a myth.

Alcohol Abuse Increases Suicide Rate Just Like In DWI

Most people do not understand the connection between alcohol abuse and suicide rates. With other issues that are connected to alcohol abuse like drunk driving, people can clearly see the connection because alcohol abusers who drive usually have a few DWI offenses on their record. People just don’t experience the connection frequently. However those in the mental health and alcohol abuse fields see the link all the time. They have had experiences that can demonstrate the between alcohol abuse and suicide rates. So this is why most people do not understand the problem like they automatically connect DWI and alcohol abuse.

Data released a governmental organization provides information about studies that have been done in the past ten years illustrates the point and calls on mental health organizations to combat both issues: alcohol abuse and suicide.

The Effects of Suicide

The study begins by focusing on the study of suicides in America. In the United States more than 30,000 people commit suicide annually. That means that every 16 minutes in the United States someone dies of suicide related causes. It also causes billions of dollars in economic loses to the country.

Mental Health Professionals are Aware of a Link between Suicide and Alcohol Abuse

Then the study talks about the issues involved in alcohol abuse that mental health professionals are aware of and those that may be unknown which affect the rates of suicide and increase this phenomenon. Since the countries chief medical officer brought attention to the problem of suicide in the late 1990s more information has been circulated to doctors and mental health professionals.

Due to cultural issues and misconceptions, it has only been recently that medical health professional have begun to focus on the problem of alcohol abuse and suicide with the issue being prevention and not post suicide attempt mental health care.

Alcohol Abuse the Second Highest Risk Factor in Suicides

The study also says that alcohol abuse is the number two risk factor for suicides in the United States. The study ends by calling for a coordinated effort between, mental health professionals and alcohol abuse counselors to help police prevent suicide attempts.

Societal Approach to Suicide Prevention

What needs to be done is to approach the entire society with a full range of issues and factors and then add alcohol abuse to other known suicide risk issues like mental illness, brain chemical factors, and environmental issues. This approach will target prevention just like other programs have focused on the prevention of drunk driving, DWI, and binge drinking in men and women. There is a needed in this country for a complete approach to reducing suicides. Society should not just rely simply on mental health professionals, but also on alcohol abuse professionals.

Alcohol Abuse, DWI, Drunk DrivingNo Comments »Alcohol Abuse Drunk Driving DWI Suicide Rate