Have You Had This Conversation With Your Teen?

How do you talk to your teen about not drinking alcohol? Three out of four youth say parents are the number one influence in their life when it comes to making decisions about drinking, however 45% of Wheeling Township teens say their parents have “not talked to them” or they “do not remember having a conversation” about not using alcohol.* Your own actions along with communicating about substance use both send strong messages to your child. Don’t assume your child already knows how you feel about underage drinking.  Talking to them and making your position clear can make a significant difference when it comes to preventing substance abuse. But remember, parents who do not discourage underage drinking may have an indirect influence on their children's alcohol use. Need help starting the conversation? CLICK HERE to visit the interactive Talk They Hear You website and learn more about the new app being developed for your smart phone!

 

Link Together – Supporting Drug and Alcohol Free Youth 

* 2013 Wheeling Township Illinois Youth Survey N=2,929