Think today is just another summer day? It’s not for the estimated 11,000 youth who will take their first drink of alcohol or the 4,500 who will smoke a cigarette or marijuana for the first time.
According to survey results from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, during the academic year, the number of teens who take their first drink any given day drops to 8,000. The number of teens trying cigarettes or marijuana dips to 3,000 to 4,000 during the same time period.
Why do teens experiment more in the summer?
“Summer often provides a lot of carefree, unmonitored time,” says CoxHealth Project Coordinator Marietta Hagan who oversees the Stone and Taney Counties Substance Abuse Initiative . “When parents are working, teens are often left unmonitored. This spare time can sometimes lead to dangerous situations.”
As a parent, there are steps you can take to protect your teen.
Keep them busy
“Teens need their freedom to explore their own interests and just relax, but planning an activity your teen enjoys is a great opportunity to bond,” Hagan says.
Festivals, hiking or cooking a special dish together are great ways to spend time with your teen.
“Don’t forget to include your teen in the planning,” Hagan says. “This will help your child feel invested in the activity and ensure it’s something they enjoy.”
Have that conversation
Studies show that parents who disapprove of drug use have teens less likely to use them. Let your teen know your expectations by having an open and candid conversation.
“Take advantage of opportunities to bring up the topic in everyday conversations such as talking about the news and sharing about your day,” Hagan says. “This can take the awkwardness out of the conversation and help your teen feel that you are talking to them and not at them.”
Be an example
We often joke about becoming our parents. When you are the parent, however, it makes you realize how much your own behaviors influence your children. By demonstrating a low-risk, healthy lifestyle, you are helping to protect your child from making unhealthy choices down the road.
Prep for pressure
“Help your teen build self-confidence and choose friends who will lead them down the right path,” Hagan says. “A positive self-esteem and good friends go a long way to helping a teen avoid peer pressure.”
Know the signs
- Smell of alcohol on breath or sudden use of breath mints
- Changes in mood or attitude
- Loss of interest in school, sports or other activities
- Withdrawal from family and friends
- Increase in secrecy
- Changes in friends
- Fatigue, hopelessness, depression or suicidal thoughts
If your child exhibits any of these signs, seek professional help.
Learn more
Visit DrugFreeOzarks.org to read personal stories, learn about different drugs and find help.
The Stone and Taney Counties Substance Abuse Initiative is a grant-funded project aimed at reducing and preventing substance use and misuse. It is a joint effort between CoxHealth and Skaggs Foundation and made possible by a Skaggs Legacy Endowment grant.