Parents

SALINE COALITION TO REDUCE UNDERAGE DRINKING

* AWARENESS * EDUCATION * INTERVENTION * TREATMENT * COMMUNITY *

Parents:

What can you do?
Get involved!

When you think about the problem of underage drinking, it can seem overwhelming! How can one person make a difference? It starts in your home, neighborhood, and community. If you can make a difference there, you will make a difference everywhere.

Here are some things both parents and students can do TODAY to reduce underage drinking:

At Home

Establish rules about alcohol - no underage drinking, no exceptions, ever! Work with your children to establish rules and consequences.
Keep any alcohol you have at home or in the garage locked up or stored away.
Set a good example as an adult or parent - don't drink to excess in front of your kids, don't drink and drive, and "practice what you preach.”
Know your child’s friends and their parents. Talk to them about the rules in their house and make sure you all agree.
Know where your children are going. If it is a party, will there be any adults there to supervise?
Talk to your children about alcohol and LISTEN to them. They know where and when underage drinking happens and how easy it is to obtain alcohol.
Support your child. Even if they choose to drink, let them know they can call you and you will help them. Save the lectures and punishments for later when everyone has had a chance to calm down.
TRUST your child to follow the rules you have established together, but verify what they have told you. Call the friend's house they are staying at, or have them call from the house phone, not their cell, and don’t be afraid to ask the parent about their views on teen's use of alcohol.

At School (for kids)

Don't be afraid to make the choice to NOT DRINK! You ARE NOT alone - you are not the only one who has decided to not drink. Find support from others who have also made the same choice.
Let your friends and peers know you do not drink. Even though they might not show it, they will respect you for making that decision and sticking to it no matter what.
Know you CAN have a good time with your friends without drinking. Even if your friends drink, you can talk to them about their choice in a non-threatening, non-judgmental way and still be friends. Offer to help them make the right choice by doing things together that don't involve alcohol.
Support your friends. If they choose to drink and do get into trouble (for example, if they are drunk and need a ride or if they make negative choices about sex and other issues while they are drinking), let them know you are still their friend and will support and help them.
Join or form a SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) group or other group so that your peers can find support and plan fun activities for students who don't drink, and can offer that same support and fun to students who do. Call the Saline Area Schools 734-429-8000

In Your Neighborhood

Talk with your neighbors and let them know your house is a "safe house" - no underage drinking allowed.
Form a "neighborhood alliance." Know which parents allow underage drinking in the house and which parents don't. Don't ostracize these neighbors, but let them know that you don't support underage drinking and will not allow your child to stay at their house as long as they do allow underage drinking.
As an adult, let the other students in the neighborhood know that you are available to help them should they choose to drink, but that you will inform their parents.
As a student, let your friends and peers know they can rely on you should they drink and need help, but that you don't support their choice to drink.
Show your peers you can have fun without drinking - have parties at your house, plan group events, etc.

In Your Community

Do a "community scan" - how many alcohol billboards, outlets, advertisements, etc. do you see? How close are they to schools, churches, parks, and other community places? How many billboards and outlets do families and children see every day? Take this information to your city/county councils, neighborhood associations, mayor, and others.
Meet with your local city or county commissioners or mayor to talk about your concerns. They need to know where minors are able to get alcohol in the community. Here are some things you can consider doing:
Use LOCAL regulations and land use powers to control the number of outlets and advertising.
Use PROMOTION regulations to reduce exposure to alcohol - ban billboards and ads, restrict or ban outdoor advertising, ban alcohol sponsorship or advertising at family events.
Use PRODUCT regulations to reduce access to alcohol.
Use PRICE regulations to reduce alcohol consumption.
For more information on how to get started on any of these actions in your community, call the Pacific Institute on Research and Evaluation (PIRE) at 1-800-335-1287 or go to www.pire.org

Everywhere

Write a letter to the editor or editorial to your local newspaper – it’s easy! email contact@scrud.org for a sample. See below for example.
Meet with your legislator to let them know you are concerned about underage drinking. For more information on your legislators, visit http://www.michigan.gov/mdch and from the left hand menu select Mental Health and Substance Abuse, then click on Substance Abuse and Drug Control.

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We are SCRUD, the Saline Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking. As a group we would like to make it known that we do not support lowering the drinking age to 18.

From the website, www.why21.org, it states, “When the ‘forbidden fruit is no longer forbidden, youth simply drink more. In states where drinking age was 18, those under 21 drank more than youth in states where the minimum drinking age was 21 and they continued to drink more as adults in their early 20’s. In states where the drinking age was 21, teenagers drank less than youth in states where the minimum drinking age was 18 and continued to drink less through their early 20’s.”

It goes on to say, “alcohol impairs decision-making capabilities, young people who drink are more likely to engage in risk-taking behavior. And this risky behavior can lead to unintentional deaths and injuries associated with driving or engaging in other activities that lead to homicide and violence, suicide attempts, sexual assault, risky sexual behavior, and vandalism and property damage.”

The only gain that will occur from lowering the drinking age to 18 is profit for the companies that produce alcohol. These companies will have to look elsewhere to increase their profits.

This legislation will not in any way improve the lives of our children.

Drugs and alcohol are a barrier to their dreams.

Eighteen is a time of transition. They are recognizing their strengths and overcoming weaknesses. It is a time of emotionally breaking away and physically moving away. They are developing ideas and forming relationships, both personal and professional that can last a lifetime. Last, but definitely not least, they are finding out what part they will play in their communities and the tremendous gifts they have to offer. They need every opportunity to succeed in every area of their lives.

Please join us in keeping our children safe and sound, and giving them the best possible start on a most awesome journey.

Thank you,

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Calling ALL Parents...The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University wants to hear from YOU!

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA*)at Columbia University has just launched a new forum – Parent Power - on its Web site www.casacolumbia.org to engage parents in a conversation about how to raise kids alcohol- and drug-free!

CASA wants to hear from parents like you all across America to learn about your experiences in talking/listening to your children about alcohol, marijuana, pills and other drugs. What works? What doesn’t work? What are the questions you want answered? Your comments will be used to help shape CASA’s second book, Parent Power, a guide to raising healthy and substance free children which will be published in 2009.

To share your thoughts, questions and ideas simply log on to www.casacolumbia.org and click on the Parent Power link. Share now and you can be a part of creating the best book ever written to help raise healthy kids free of drugs and alcohol!

*The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University is neither affiliated with, nor sponsored by, the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (also known as "CASA") or any of its member organizations, or any other organization with the name of "CASA."