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April 7, 2003 Startling news about teens’ drug of choice: alcohol This guest opinion is by Barbara Cimaglio, community services prevention manager in the Oregon Department of Human Services. For a photo of Cimaglio, contact jim.sellers@state.or.us or call (503) 945-5738. Length: 520 words By Barbara Cimaglio Here are three questions to get your attention on a subject with life-changing consequences: under-age drinking.  Nationally,
what share of alcoholic beverages is consumed by under-age drinkers? How much
likelier are people to become alcohol-dependent adults if they start drinking
before age 15 than if they wait until the legal age of 21? Who do
you suppose sees more magazine ads for beer – youth or adults?Answers: Under-age drinkers consume nearly 20 percent of all alcohol sold in this country. Those under age 15 are 300 percent more likely to become alcohol-dependent adults than those who wait for the legal drinking age. And youth see 45 percent more magazine ads for beer than adults do. These aren’t trivia questions. And the answers should raise serious questions for parents who understand the proven link between under-age alcohol use and delinquent behavior, brain damage, poor academic performance and risky sexual practices. That concern grows as we understand that most under-age drinking isn’t "harmless" sipping. More than 90 percent of teens who drink do so to get drunk. Moreover, the share of Oregon eighth-graders who say they’ve used alcohol in the past 30 days – it’s more than one in four – exceeds the national figure by nearly 30 percent. The alcohol industry, which realizes nearly 20 percent of its revenues from under-age drinking, doesn’t have great incentive to address these problems. Its voluntary TV-advertising code is so relaxed that 99 percent of TV shows are open for alcohol advertising, reports the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University (www.camy.org). Further, CAMY reported that 10 magazines with under-age audiences of 25 percent or more accounted for nearly a third of all 2001 alcohol advertising. The link between under-age alcohol use and use of tobacco and illegal drugs is strong. For parents the right question is, "What can I do about it." Most parents want to help their kids grow up to be healthy and successful adults. Good news: Parents are in a powerful position to help make that happen. In Oregon and nationally, independent research shows that kids are less likely to use alcohol and other drugs if they know it’s unacceptable to their parents. But kids can’t read your mind; you have to tell them what you expect. Tips: Know what
you expect: for health and legal reasons, no alcohol use before age 21. Sit down
with your children and outline what you expect and why. Ensure they understand,
and that they know you’re serious. Explain
what will happen if your expectations aren’t met. Choose immediate consequences
that are important to your children. Be prepared
to follow through. Remember that if you make the consequences too severe, you
may be reluctant to impose them. Important: Consistency is more important than
severity.Among resources to help you are the Oregon Partnership’s "helpline" for treatment referrals (800 923-HELP), for teens (877-553-TEEN) and information to help parents talk with their kids, including some in Spanish and Russian (800 822-6772). Remember, our kids’ decisions about under-age drinking can deliver life-changing consequences later that should be getting our attention now. Barbara Cimaglio is community services prevention manager in the Oregon Department of Human Services. April is Alcohol Awareness Month in Oregon. |
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