B4-U-BUY(tm) FYI - Helping Teens Stay Safe

Helping Teens Stay Safe

Now is the time when a teenager's mind turns to thoughts of prom, final exams, graduation and summer vacation. That means celebrations with friends and summertime parties. That also means it's a good time for parents to talk with their children about underage drinking, according to family therapist Lonnie Carton, Ph.D., host of the weekly network radio program, "In The Learning Center."

In addition, Dr. Carton said the youth population in the United States is growing, and as the number of teens increases, so will the challenges they face -- including peer pressure to drink illegally. The Census Bureau projects that the number of 16-year-olds will jump seven percent by the year 2000 and 18 percent by the year 2010. Carton explained, "The sooner parents talk about respect for the law and avoiding the wrong kind of peer pressure, the better-equipped their children will be to make smart choices."

In fact, parents should begin talking with their children about drinking long before their teenage years, according to Carton. "Many times, teens will have heard -- or think they'll have heard -- everything they need to know about drinking," she emphasized. "But by talking with our children about drinking before their teen years, we can best prepare them to make the right decisions when faced with peer pressure to drink illegally as teenagers."

As teens prepare to celebrate prom and graduation, and with the extra free time that summer vacation brings, Carton offers these tips to help parents address the issue of underage drinking. In talking with your teenagers:

Let them know that rules are made to protect them, not to punish them.
Remind them to be in control of themselves and to base whatever decisions they make on what they know is right.
Tell them that if they face a situation they know isn't safe, to call you immediately, no matter the time or circumstance -- and assure them that when they do call, they'll be praised for making the smart decision.

In the years before children are teenagers, Carton recommends that parents follow these simple guidelines when talking with their children about drinking:

Set a good example in your own use of alcohol beverages.
Practice the basics of good parenting by encouraging open communication. This will foster self-esteem and critical decision-making skills.
Be factual when you talk about drinking. The goal is to prepare children, not scare them.
Set firm rules and guidelines.
Get to know your children's friends and, if possible, their parents.

"Parents are critical in a child's development and self-esteem," Carton said. "Research has shown us consistently that the two most important influences on a child's decisions about drinking are their parents and their peers."

Carton is also an advisor for a program called "Family Talk About Drinking." This program, which consists of a set of booklets (available in English and Spanish) and a video, offers advice on how parents can talk with their kids about the difficult subject of drinking. "Family Talk About Drinking," which is provided as a community service of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., is available free by calling 1-800-359-TALK(8255). (NAPSI)