Nearly synonymous with the words Super Bowl is alcohol. From watch parties to highly anticipated commercials, it’s everywhere. Most parents don’t think twice about the alcohol exposure, but it can have serious, unintentional consequences on teenagers. Research shows that teens who are exposed to Super Bowl...
Marijuana is perhaps one of the most polarizing substances we’ll discuss on National Prevention Week. Opinions around the country cover a wide spectrum. Should marijuana be legalized? Should it just be decriminalized? Should it be used only for medicinal purposes? (P.S. Contrary to popular belief,...
Summer is approaching, and more teens take their first drink in June and July than in any other months of the year. But what’s the big deal if teens drink? Did you know that the average age of first use in Texas is 13, while the average age...
Out of all the health issues we face today, perhaps one that the public most misunderstands is mental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control, mental illnesses are “conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia....
Many parents believe that it’s safer for kid to drink at home than to drink elsewhere. In fact, two-thirds of minors receive their alcohol from friends and family. Often times, parents or adults will host parties where they serve alcohol to teens. However, hosting underage drinking...
Social hosting refers to parents who knowingly provide alcohol to minors that are not their children or allow alcohol to be consumed by minors on property they control, like their house or a rented space. In effect, these parents are ‘hosting’ an alcohol party for...
A half-century ago, the U.S. surgeon general released a report on the health impacts of smoking that shaped the public and government’s attitudes toward tobacco for years to come. In November 2016, another surgeon general’s report was issued – on addiction and substance misuse and...
As you get ready for back to school, remember that with a new year comes new chances for your child to get exposed to alcohol and drugs. As a parent, the best way to prepare yourself for potential questions and conversations is to equip yourself...
Many parents wait until their children are in high school to talk about alcohol; however, research shows that parents should be starting these conversations before age 10. Of course, these discussions are better late than never, but the key when it comes to discussing alcohol...
The legal drinking age of 21 doesn’t stop all parents from allowing underage drinking in their homes. In our prevention work, we’ve heard quite a lot of reasons of why parents choose to allow their underage kids to drink. We’ve also found that a lot...