With more free time, fewer responsibilities, and less adult supervision, summertime is “prime time” for youth drinking and the associated risks. Quoting a report released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Healthy Novato spokespeople noted that summertime is a period when underage drinking is more likely to begin than at almost any other time in the year.
“The study found that on an average day in June or July, more than 11,000 youths used alcohol for the first time,” said Katie Keating, Healthy Novato Project Director. “in other months, the daily average ranged from about 5,000 to 8,000 new users per day.”
For many teenagers, a day at the beach or around the pool will include drinking alcoholic beverages. But drinking and summer activities don’t mix, Keating emphasized, and can lead to tragic consequences on the water, on the road, and outdoors. “Research shows that half of all water recreation deaths of teens and adults involve the use of alcohol.”
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She added that drinking presents more dangerous risks for youth than for adults. Youth are more inclined than adults to binge when they drink, putting themselves at great risk for sexual assaults, school problems, memory problems, damage to their developing brains, and future alcohol problems.
She encourages parents and other adults to take these five important actions to assure youth around them enjoy a safe summer vacation.
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1. Make sure you have a system in place to closely monitor your child’s activities. Know who they are with and what they are doing. Organize activities and events that are alternatives to alcohol use. Guide young people toward sports, camps, jobs, and household tasks during the summer.
2. Reinforce messages about the risk involved with using alcohol and drugs to youth year-round and set the expectation that they are not to drink until they are 21.
3. Make sure that any alcohol in your home is locked up to prevent youth from accessing it. Youth can be easily tempted, especially if friends put pressure on them.
4. If you or your teen is hosting a party, be there to actively supervise. Make sure your child and his/her friends understand that no alcohol or drugs are allowed at the party and that they cannot access any alcohol in your home.
5. Share this information with other parents and adults in the community so that they can also help protect youth in the community from alcohol-related harm.
Keating encouraged parents and other caring adults to put these five tips into practice this summer. “While we need many groups, including schools, law enforcement, government officials, and youth to be part of the solution, parents and caregivers play a critical role in setting rules for families and helping kids grow up safely.”
Healthy Novato works to prevent youth alcohol use and its threats to the health and safety of young people in the community through programs and partnerships. The complete list of partnering programs, information for parents, and the Count Me In! Pledge are on the website. Those wanting more information should go to healthynovato.org or contact Katie Keating at (415) 493-4322 or kkeating@novatoyouthcenter.org.
Those interested in taking community level action on the issue of youth drinking and drug use can visit http://novatoblueribbon.org/ to learn about how to get involved with the Novato Blue Ribbon Coalition for Youth, or contact Jasmine Freese at (415) 798-5329 or jasmine@novatoblueribbon.org.
