Alcohol Awareness Month: Keep your family safe

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and sharing this information with Phillips County is important to help address the underage drinking problem. For questions about this article, contact Prevention Specialist Carol Smith at Phillips County Coalition for Healthy Choices at (406) 654-2378.

Children as passengers with drunk drivers

According to the 2016 Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA) data, 20.8-percent of the 17th Judicial District (which includes Phillips County) eighth grade students haven ridden in a vehicle with a drunk driver in the past 30 days. Most students in the eighth grade do not have a driver's license, so they rely on those that do to drive them around. Studies have shown that youth riding with people who drink and drive are more likely to drive drunk themselves. As parents teach their kids about the dangers of drinking and driving, they should also remind them to never RIDE in a vehicle with someone who has been drinking, whether a fellow teen or an adult.

Additionally, 20.7-percent of tenth graders and 26.1-percent of 12th graders in the 17th Judicial District reported riding with a drunk driver in the past 30 days. More students are choosing to allow someone that is drunk to drive home rather than driving themselves. Following these tips can help parents establish open communication and help keep their children safe in these situations.

• It is important for parents to remind their kids that they will not get into trouble when calling for a safe ride home.

• Ask your kids who they will be riding in a vehicle with, and ensure that no one will be drinking alcohol.

• Make it easy for your child to talk to you honestly and openly with you about things in their life.

• Show you care. Even though young teens may not always show it, they still need to know that they are important to their parents. Make it a point to regularly spend one-on-one time with your child time when you can give him or her your loving, undivided attention.

• Draw the line. Set clear, realistic boundaries for your child's behavior. Establish appropriate consequences for breaking rules and consistently enforce them.

• Understand that your child is growing up. This doesn't mean hands-off attitude. As you guide your child's behavior, also make an effort to respect his or her growing need for independence and privacy.

Drinking at an Early Age

According to the 2016 Montana Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA), Phillips County has a concerning amount of youth who are regularly drinking alcohol at an early age. Phillips County’s age of onset for having had more than a few sips of alcohol among eighth grade students was 35.0-percent. This is a disturbing amount of youth drinking before they reach high school.

59.5-percent of youth in 10th grade have drank alcohol, which is slightly lower than the State average of 60.1-percent. 68.8-percent of youth in 12th grade have drank alcohol, which is slightly lower than the State average of 74.8-percent

What can we do to reduce these numbers and keep our youth safe? Talk to them. Too often to parents forget the importance of reminding their children of the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Here are a few tips on how to talk to your children:

• Start early; talk to your kids at a young age, don’t wait until they have to make the decision on their own of whether it is right or wrong to drink alcohol. Let them know it is not acceptable, dangerous, and illegal.

• Talk about your family history; let your child know if your family has had problems, and be open about your own personal situations.

• Set clear expectations.

• Communicate your values; youth are less likely to drink if they feel their parents or other role model adults in their life feel strongly against it.

• Ask them questions; ask about their friends, ask about their weekend, ask about their hobbies. Be sure you know about their life, and show that you are interested.

Driving while impaired

Alcohol affects drivers in a way that changes their judgement, depth perception, and vital motor skills required to drive safely. They may think they are driving normal when in reality they are not, and the lives of the driver and others are put into serious danger. A high school student does not have much driving experience, and their brain is still developing which affects their ability to make good decisions. This mixed with the negative effects of alcohol make it very difficult for a teen to function well enough to drive and reach their destination safely.

In Phillips County, the 2016 Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA) data states that 15.2 -percent of students in 12th grade have driven a car after drinking alcohol in the past 30 days. Only 2.6-percent of students in the eighth grade admitted to drinking and driving, however most eighth grade students do not have a driver’s license. The data also shows that 7.9-percent of 10th graders have driven after drinking alcohol in the past 30 days. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and about 25-percent of those crashes involve an underage drunk driver.

While parent-child conversations are essential, talking is not always enough. Taking preventative action to help children resist alcohol is also crucial. Research strongly shows that active, supportive involvement by parents and guardians can help teens avoid underage drinking and prevent later alcohol abuse. Following these tips can help parents take these preventative measures.

• Monitor alcohol use in your home. If you keep alcohol in your home, keep track of the supply. Make it clear to your child that you don’t allow unchaperoned parties or other teen gatherings in your home.

• Connect with other parents. Getting to know other parents and guardians can help you keep closer tabs on your child.

• Keep track of your child’s activities. Be aware of your teen’s plans and whereabouts. Generally, your child will be more open to your supervision if he or she feels you are keeping tabs because you care, not because you distrust him or her.

• Develop family rules about underage drinking. When parents establish clear “no alcohol” rules and expectations, their children are less likely to begin drinking.

• Set a good example. Parents and guardians are important role models for their children—even children who are fast becoming teenagers.

For questions about this article, contact Prevention Specialist Carol Smith at Phillips County Coalition for Healthy Choices, (406) 654-2378.