Alcohol Awareness Month – April 2024 by Cary Sabados, Clinical Intern

During Alcohol Awareness Month this April, we highlight the importance of discussing alcohol use with your teen(s) and some strategies for fostering healthy communication around this topic.  While there have been meaningful declines in teen substance use within the last decade, it is still true that alcohol poses serious risks for teen’s health and development in both the short and long-term.

As caregivers, it is important to be attentive to any signs of alcohol use or worrying changes in your child’s mood, behavior, social life, or academic performance. An open, curious, and loving approach is essential when discussing sensitive or difficult subjects with your teen, especially when it comes to alcohol or drug use.  Here are some strategies that can help you maintain a strong relationship with your child as you navigate this topic together:

Prioritize healthy and consistent communication with your teen.  The centerpiece of all healthy relationships is communication. Consistent and open dialogue establishes a healthy foundation within the family for addressing any issues or challenges that might arise. Furthermore, staying aware of the state of their friendships, relationships, and social activity can help you identify and discuss situations where problems with alcohol might arise.

Be honest about the challenges and consequences of teen drinking. Declining to participate in alcohol use can often be trickier than just saying “no.” When talking with your child, acknowledge the difficulties they will face in dealing with peer and social pressure and problem-solve with them about how they can advocate for themselves in ways that promote their identity and agency. It is also important to speak frankly to your teen about the consequences – legal, physical, psychological – of alcohol use and how it can be an obstacle to their future plans and achieving the goals they have for themselves.

Model and maintain boundaries when it comes to their alcohol use and your own. While teens are in a natural period of growing independence and separation from their caregivers, they are still learning from adults how to relate to alcohol and paying attention to their responses when norms and rules have been broken. Ensure that you are modeling appropriate alcohol consumption and be firm, fair, and consistent in the boundaries you set around alcohol use with your child.

The teen years can be a new and challenging time for families who are striving to balance independence and supervision, responsibility, and exploration. Family Service of Glencoe has clinicians who can consult with you about the best approaches to take or place you in touch with resources that will support you and your teen in addressing the challenges or consequences of teen alcohol use. This is not something either of you has to tackle alone.

For more on Alcohol Awareness Month including a fact sheet for teens, activities for middle schoolers, a virtual reality experience, and a Kahoot! Quiz about underage drinking, see: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/news-events/announcement/april-alcohol-awareness-month