Be The One, Start the Conversation

Studies show:

1 in 5 high school age students drank alcohol in the past 30 days.
If that student started using alcohol before the age of 15, they are 4 times more likely to become alcoholics.
1 in 20 middle school students reported using alcohol in the past 30 days
Children who sip or taste alcohol are at risk for alcohol use as teenagers.
Youth alcohol use can alter the developing brain, especially attention, learning and memory.
Youth who use alcohol are more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle crash, experience depression, contemplate suicide, have poor relationships, and less likely to succeed in school.

In response to this information, the La Crosse County Prevention Network (LCPN) launched Be The One campaign aimed at preventing underage drinking, increasing parent skills and includes a community call to action.

Be The One is comprised of:

Public Service Announcement ads featuring local youth,
Bright yellow yard signs, magnets and more will be spread throughout the community educating about the dangers of underage drinking.
LCPN’s website provides expert advise on how to start conversations and when is it developmentally appropriately to begin those conversations about alcohol.
The La Crosse County Prevention Network offers a free 45-minute presentation/training as part of the Be The One campaign designed to build skills and confidence in starting conversations about alcohol with young people. To sign up for a presentation/training contact Judi Zabel, 608-785-9855 or jzabel@lacrossecounty.org.

Understand Adult Influence
Drugs, including tobacco and alcohol, are easily available to children and adolescents. Prevention starts with parents. Parents are the strongest influence that children have. There is no guarantee that your child won’t use drugs, but drug use is much less likely to happen if you:
Provide guidance and clear rules about not using drugs.

Spend time with your child.
Do not use tobacco or other drugs yourself.

Talk About Family History
The single most reliable indicator for risk of future alcohol or drug dependence is family history.

Youth want to know if anybody in their family has struggled with addiction so that they can make informed decisions.

Start a Conversation
There are many ways to help support a child, but you can help them make the right choice. In the end, it will need to be your child’s decision. Sometimes our children won’t appreciate advice they don’t want to hear-especially if they’re using substances- but telling the truth to help someone you love is part of being a positive influence, even when it’s hard to do.

For Tips on how to start a conversation about alcohol -Link

Be Informed
Keep yourself informed about drugs and educate on the dangers of drug use. Decisions are made every day and it’s important to know some may have bigger consequences than others.

*insert links to LCPN web pages that talk about the effects of drug use*

Know Your Resources
*Insert resources for parents themselves and their children*

Be a Good Role Model for Dealing With Stress
(take kids on walks.. etc.)

General Tips

Decide if your child is looking for facts, connection or direction.
Focus on their questions, be open to their challenges.
Find common ground and let them know that you’re on their side.
Use accurate information to talk with the young person.
Bring positive emotional energy, put your opinions aside.
Talk about what a healthy lifestyle looks like and discuss how underage drinking can impact that lifestyle.
Keep the conversation going, it should not be a one-time talk.
Empower young people to understand that they re in control of their healthy lifestyle choices.
Keep the conversation balanced, listen and don’t talk over or down to them.
Don’t use scare tactics, focus on the positives of saying yes to a healthy lifestyle.

Youth Ages 3 - 4

Youth Ages 3-4 Even though 3-4 year old's aren't ready to learn the facts about alcohol, they start to develop the decision-making and problem-solving skills they will need later. You can help them develop those skills in simple ways.

Let your toddler choose their outfit, even if it doesn't match. This lets them know you think that they're capable of making good decisions.

"Please pick out a pair of shorts and a top"

Set a good example 4 of the behavior that you want young people to demonstrate. This is especially true in the preschool years when kids tend to imitate adults' actions as a way of learning. So, by being active, eating healthy, and drinking responsibly, adults teach kids important lessons early on.

Youth Ages 4 - 7

Young people this age still think and learn mostly by experience. They understand the present but don't have a good understanding of things that may happen in the future. Keep discussions about alcohol in the present tense and relate them to things that young people know and understand.

For example, watching TV together can provide a chance to talk about advertising messages. Ask about the ads you see and encourage kids to ask questions too.

"Alcohol is a chemical that is in some drinks, like beer or wine."

Four to seven year old's are interested in how their bodies work, so this is a good time to talk about maintaining good health and avoiding substances that might harm the body. Talk about how alcohol hurts a person's ability to see, hear, and walk.
It changes the way people feel; and it makes it hard to judge things like whether the water is too deep or if there's a car coming too close. And it gives people bad breath and a headache!

Youth ages 8 - 11

Elementary school years are a crucial time in which you can influence a young person's decisions about alcohol use. Kids at this age love to learn facts, especially strange ones, and are eager to learn how things work and what sources of information are available to them.

Openly discuss facts about alcohol: the long and short-term effects and consequences, its physical effects, and why it's especially dangerous for growing bodies.

"Alcohol is legal for adults over 21. It isn't safe for you. Your brain is growing really fast and alcohol isn't good for growing brains."

Young people can be heavily influenced by friends now. Their interests may be determined by what their peers think. Teach them the skill of saying "no" to peer pressure and discuss the importance of thinking and acting as an individual.

Casual discussions about alcohol and friends can take place at the dinner table as part of your normal conversation: "I've been reading about young kids using alcohol. Do you ever hear about kids using alcohol or other drugs in your school?"

Youth ages 12 - 17

By the teen years, your kids should know the facts about alcohol and your attitudes and beliefs about substance abuse. Use this time to reinforce what you've already taught them and focus on keeping the lines of communication open.

Teens are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, and their increasing need for independence may make them want to defy their parents' wishes or instructions. When you make teens feel accepted and respected as an individual, you increase the chances that they will try to be open with you.

"You matter to me and I love you. It's my job to help you stay safe and healthy. Using alcohol is not okay."

Teens want to make healthy choices but need regular guidance without judgement to do so. Avoid excessive preaching and threats, and instead, emphasize your love and concern. Even when they're annoyed by adult interest and questions, teens still recognize that it comes with the territory.

Young adults ages 18 - 25

Adults at this stage continue to need guidance without judgement. Respect their boundaries, and yours. Listen to their questions and conversations instead of trying to convince them. Know where you stand but allow room for disagreement. Voicing your concerns and being open to questions and challenges is key for young adults to connect with you. Connection to other caring adults is the prevention for alcohol misuse.

Laws:

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to use alcohol
It is illegal for adults to provide alcohol to minors, unless you are the parent

Their brain matters:

The brain continues to develop until age 25
Alcohol can impact mood, concentration, judgement, and coordination
Alcohol will impact your ability to drive, play sports, and be successful in college
Heavy drinking can lead to addiction -- which means people have trouble controlling their alcohol use and often cannot stop even though they want to
Having one drink at a dinner or party isn't likely to cause much harm. But routinely having more than 1 or 2 drinks per day could raise your cancer risk. Drinking alcohol is linked to a much higher risk of mouth and throat cancers, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer.