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Smart Start Coalition has been working with Kilgore Middle School for more than a year to prevent substance abuse among students. This monthly newsletter is a part of the education activities the coalition and middle school are doing to prevent youth substance abuse.
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May 2016
Newsletter
Smart Start Coalition is a group of concerned community members that work to prevent underage drinking, marijuana use, synthetic drug use and prescription drug abuse in Gregg, Harrison and Marion counties.
The coalition has been working with Kilgore Middle School for more than a year to prevent substance abuse among students.
This newsletter is a part of the education activities we’re doing to prevent youth substance abuse.
This is the last newsletter until school starts in the fall, but our coalition meetings will still meet to prepare our prevention activities for next school year.
If you would like to be a part of those meetings, Contact Coalition Coordinator Erin LaCoste at 903-939-9010 or [email protected].
Contents
• Who we are ..................... 1
• Underage drinking during the summer................1
• Negative effects of underage drinking ......... 3
• How to prevent underage drinking this summer .... 3
WHO WE ARE
1Parent Newsletter
Content
UNDERAGE DRINKING A SERIOUS ISSUE DURING SUMMER BREAK
How to prevent underage drinking during summer on page 2
100 DEADLIEST DAYS
Summer is a time for kids to experience freedom from school and spend time with friends and family. However, extra free time, lenient rules and less oversight can also increase underage drinking.
A survey by Caron Treatment Centers reveals 61 percent identified summer as the season kids are most likely to engage in underage drinking.
Research shows more youth use alcohol for the first time during summer months than any other time of year.
On an average day in June or July, more than 11,000 youth start drinking alcohol. For other months, the average is between 5,000 and 9,000 new users per day.
Alcohol initiation during the long summer break is not the only concern for adults.
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, summer vacation, has been called “The 100 Deadliest Days”. Nine of the 10 deadliest days for youth on U.S. highways fall between May and August.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that during May, June, July and August, nearly twice as many teens die in highway crashes every day when compared to the rest of the year.
90% OF THE DEADLIEST DAYS FOR YOUTH ARE DURING SUMMER
SMART START COALITION
2 Parent Newsletter
As discussed on the first page, many youth start using alcohol during summer months and the consquences can be deadly.
One way to help prevent underage drinking during the summer time is to implement the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s tips for S-U-M-M-E-R:
SET RULES: Be clear about a zero-tolerance policy against underage drinking and explain the consequences for breaking the rules. A survey from Mothers Against Drunk Driving showed that teens whose parents tell them that underage drinking is completely unacceptable are more than 80 percent less likely to drink than teens whose parents give them other messages about underage drinking.
Despite the fact that many parents think their kids don’t listen to them, parental disapproval is still the number one reason youth choose not to drink alcohol.
UNDERSTAND AND COMMUNICATE: Keep lines of communication open. Significant parent involvement is the most important factor in preventing drug use. Other adults can also provide support and encouragement.
MONITOR ACTIVITIES: Know each day what your child has planned, where they will be, with whom, and what their schedule is. Have planned “check-ins.” Cell phones make this easy. Unmonitored kids are four times more likely to engage in drug use or other risky behaviors.
MAKE SURE YOU STAY INVOLVED: Know who their friends are and have a relationship with them. Talk to other parents, coaches and adults involved in your kid’s life. Without being intrusive, stay connected to let your child know you care.
ENCOURAGE INVOLVEMENT IN SUMMER ACTIVITIES: Kids who are involved in Scouts, 4-H, sports, church or other youth activities have a focus for the summer. Other ideas: a camp or volunteer activity.
RESERVE TIME FOR FAMILY: Even though kids may seem like they don’t want to spend time with their family, it is beneficial to have meals together, take a vacation and do other family activities. In a survey, when asked “What makes you happy?” the most frequent answer was spending time with family.
HOW TO PREVENT UNDERAGE DRINKING DURING THE SUMMER
DISRUPTION IN BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
INCREASED RISK OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
INCREASED RISK FOR PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
DEATH
INCREASED BINGE DRINKING
INCREASED CHANCE OF USING AN ILLICIT DRUG
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF UNDERAGE DRINKING
3Parent Newsletter
903-939-9010
Smart Start Coalition
nextstepcommunitysolutions.com
MAY 2016
