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Few times in life as a kid are better than summer vacation.
There is something special about summer vacation; it is a time of freedom, fun and friendship that you just never see again.
Sometimes, though, it isn’t all fun and games. As children enter their teen years, the free time can be mixed with a relative lack of supervision by adults and the peer pressure can result in poor choices about alcohol and drug use.
There are more parties in the summer, as no school means no need to wake up early on weekdays, freeing up Sunday through Thursday nights for parties or smaller gatherings, and with more parties come more opportunities for underage drinking and/or drug use.
Summer parties are also less likely to be supervised, as the nice weather permits outdoor parties at locations off the beaten path, far from parents and police.
This proliferation of underage drinking during the summer months can derail a teen’s life in many ways.
Teens who begin drinking before they turn 15 are five times more likely to develop an alcohol problem than people who wait until they are 21, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teens who start drinking during the summer may keep drinking once school rolls around in September, harming their grades.
And of course there is always the danger of alcohol poisoning and accidents (not just drunken driving accidents, but also those caused by falls or failed stunts done on a dare) that can change a person’s life in one night. Prescription drug abuse is very present on our Valley, and combining even one pill with alcohol can have deadly consequences.
What can you do as a parent to influence your kids, and their friends, to make healthy choices this summer?
First and most importantly, talk to them about alcohol and other drugs. Let them know your expectations about their behavior. Parental disapproval is the No. 1 reason cited by teens who do not drink.
Second, talk to them about their lives, and where they are going and what they are doing when they go out, and listen to what they have to say.
Third, if you have summer parties, don’t provide alcohol to anyone under 21. All the communities in the San Ramon Valley have a social-host ordinance that places direct liability on adults who even passively allow people under age 21 to consume alcohol in their homes and can result in fines and possible jail time. Additionally, lock up any alcohol or prescription drugs you have in your home.
While there is no magic solution to guarantee children will make the right choices this summer, by taking these steps, parents can capitalize on their position as the most important influence in their child’s life and steer them in the right direction to a summer that is fun, memorable and safe.
For more information about talking to your kids about underage drinking, or to learn about opportunities to prevent underage drinking in your community, please reach out to me. I’m the alcohol policy coordinator at Discovery Counseling Center and coordinator of the San Ramon Valley Alcohol Policy Coalition.
The San Ramon Valley Alcohol Policy Coalition’s mission is to reduce alcohol and drug use among youth in the San Ramon Valley through the collaborative and coordinated efforts of key stakeholders from the entire community. Learn more about the coalition by visiting San Ramon Valley Alcohol Policy Coalition on Facebook.
Editor’s note: Patty Hoyt, of the San Ramon Valley Alcohol Policy Coalition, can be reached at 837-0505 ext. 417 or pattyh@discoveryctr.net.
