Alcohol is the most widely used drug among youth. Youth who begin consuming alcohol before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependency in contrast to those who wait until age 21 to consume their first drink. Alcohol and other drug use are correlated with anxiety, depression, and suicide. In order to prevent alcohol and other drug use among youth, parents must be armed with the knowledge and resources needed to open the lines of communication with their children and to implement effective strategies that can prevent abuse of these substances. Research shows that the stronger the connection between parents and youth, the less likely youth are to engage in self destructive behaviors. In this section, parents will learn, among other things, some facts about drug and alcohol use among youth, successful communication techniques when talking with youth, and available resources to combat this growing problem.
Parent Education