How To Reduce Teen Alcohol Abuse
It’s officially back to school season! Kids and parents around the US are stocked up on pencils and paper, have lunches and backpacks packed, and morning alarm clocks set as they get back into the swing of a new school year.
Amidst the flurry of back to school purchases, pumpkin spice everything, and fall leaves, thinking about teens and alcohol abuse might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But this season presents a unique opportunity to communicate with kids and teens about alcohol abuse, educate them, and set a solid foundation for making healthy, responsible choices now, and for the days to come.
Today we’re sharing 3 ways parents, family members, and loved ones can help reduce alcohol abuse in kids and teens. These tips can be used now, as you’re establishing new routines and schedules, but also all year round. Implementing these tips will not only teach kids that this is an important topic, but bring a sense of consistency to your communication and check ins on difficult subjects.
1. Encourage Activity & Outdoor Time
When teens engage in more physical activity it can create a positive feedback loop that leads to other healthy behaviors. Physical activity is not only associated with improved health indicators such as lower likelihood of cardiovascular disease, but it also has mental health benefits such as reducing anxiety, depression and stress.
- Prevention Plus Wellness
Fall is the perfect time (especially here in upstate New York) to encourage returning to old favorite activities, trying new ones, and spending time outdoors. Not only is activity a preventative measure for youth, but engaging in the community around sports, and activities can create healthy friendships and bonds with mentors like coaches.
Spending time outdoors can also help regulate the nervous system and circadian rhythm, meaning that kids and teens are likely to sleep better, which helps energy and focus during the day. Plus, if you can spend time with your teen in an activity, or outdoors, it gives you more chances to talk and connect. When your teen feels that you’re invested and caring in their lives, they’ll be more likely to open up more often, making conversations around drugs and alcohol abuse easier.
2. Create Family Wellness Goals
Use this fall as an opportunity to set some family goals around health and wellness. Creating specific, action oriented goals as a family will allow everyone to not only feel included and accounted for, but help keep all family members on track and working together as a team.
Teaching teens how to set goals is an important skill that they’ll use in years to come, and parents can lead by example by working towards common goals and prioritizing health for the whole family. Plan together how you’ll reach the goal, why it’s important, and talk about what things might stand in your way, and brainstorm for how you might overcome them together.
3. Call on Your Community
Four Rivers has many great programs for kids and teens that can be used in schools, churches, or after school programs. You can check out all of our offerings here!
Calling on your community for further support is essential in reducing teen alcohol abuse. More minds are better than one, after all, and many hands make light work. Reach out to your school’s administrators, or government leaders to see what solutions they can come up with that will move the teens in the community forward by staying informed and empower them in making healthy choices.
Together, we can take small steps and intentional actions everyday to help kids and teens build a healthy, drug free future!
