Teens & Addiction
The science of brain development reveals why teens are responsive to new experiences and influences, both positive and negative. For this reason, the teen years are a period of great promise and potential risk, especially for addiction. That’s why preventing and delaying substance use during this time is so vital to their long-term health.
Everything we think, feel and do is governed by our brain. Alcohol can have a much stronger effect on a brain that is not fully developed.
Make no mistake: tweens and teens are exposed to alcohol and are curious about it. However, parents can arm tweens and teens with crucial information to make the right decision before they are presented with the option to drink or not to drink.
Did you know:
- Parents are the leading influence on their kids when it comes to alcohol & drugs
- 53% of 8th grade students think it is “fairly easy” or “very easy” to obtain alcohol.
- Among 10 – 18 year old children, 7% report that they “never” had a conversation with their parents about the dangers of alcohol in the past year.
- 46% of parents say they need information on the health effects of underage drinking to continue to have meaningful conversations about underage drinking.
- 64% of 10 – 18 year old children report their parents as the leading influence in their decision about drinking or not drinking alcohol.
If you would like to make a difference and help save our children from substance abuse, please attend a public forum at the Winn Parish Library on June 7th t 5:30 pm. Refreshments will be served, but more importantly, connections will be made.
Source:
- Dr. Elliott Brown and the National Institute of Health
- National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS)
#Education + Engagement = Triumph Over Addiction!
This project is funded by a Substance and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program Grant from The Rapides Foundation. The goal of the grant is to support the implementation of evidence-based, community-driven solutions for preventing substance and alcohol abuse.
