April is Alcohol Awareness Month

As we rapidly approach the warmer weather months, teens turn towards thoughts of prom and graduation. These are teen’s traditions to celebrate "coming of age" and to recognize accomplishments. However, these times of joy, dancing, good memories and celebration easily could turn dangerous and deadly.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which monitors alcohol-related accidents says that during the months of April, May and June, the peak months for proms and graduations, these accidents spike. The organization Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) reports automobile crashes are the leading cause of death among teens, and approximately 36 percent of traffic deaths among 15-20 year olds are alcohol-related.

Contrary to what many believe underage drinking is not a "rite of passage" during prom and graduation. There are even some parents who believe that it is better for teens to drink alcohol than to use drugs are sending a confusing message to teens. Even more confusing for teens are those adults who will host parties where alcohol is provided, because they think they can better protect teens in supervised situations. The Drug Free Action Alliance’s, “Parents Who Host Lose the Most” Campaign aims to highlight this issue.

But these beliefs and misperceptions are not supported by the research. Underage drinking is both illegal and risky. The National Institutes of Health released a study that found heavy alcohol consumption harms brain development in teens. The region of the brain that inhibits risky behavior is not fully formed until age 25, and any alcohol-related damage incurred at a young age can have long-term effects.

Researchers have found that teens who start drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence and two and a half times more likely to become abusers than those who delay alcohol use until age 21.

Alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug that contributes to lack of judgment and poor coping skills. Under-age drinking can lead to destructive behaviors such as physical and emotional violence, sexual mistakes or misjudgments, accidental injuries and deaths and alcohol overdose.

GATE America wants to help teens remain safe during this season of proms and graduations, we recommends parents and other caregivers do the following:

• Have regular and open communication with your teens about drugs and alcohol.
• Discuss rules and expectations for proms and graduations.
• Do not supply drugs or alcohol to your teens.
• Know who is driving and what the plans are.
• Don't rent hotel rooms for your teens.
• Communicate with other parents about their expectations for proms and graduations.
• Stay up until your teens are home.
• Supervise and be involved at proms and graduations.

The research shows regular communication between parents and teens has a positive influence on the decisions teens make. Teens are more likely to live up to the parent's expectations and less likely to drink, use drugs and engage in sexual behavior when open and regular communication is occurring.