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Middle schoolers and alcohol: Tips for parents from AAAS |
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From EurekAlert! - Breaking News: The first few weeks of middle school are a frenzy of friends, parties, and school events. It's also time for parents to start talking with their kids about the dangers of drinking alcohol, according to The Science Inside Alcohol Project of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The Partnership for a Drug-Free America released a study in August, 2008 of 6,500 teens in which 73% said school stress caused them to drink and take drugs. A Columbia University study, also released in August, found that "problem parents," those who let their kids stay out past 10:00 p.m. on school nights in particular, are putting them in situations where they are at risk for drinking and drug use. It's the most vulnerable time, specialists say, but also one of the last times they still can be influenced by adults. No one sets out to be a disengaged parent. But it's hard to be vigilant and talk to your kids about complicated topics when you are constantly on the go. Members of The Science Inside Alcohol Project at AAAS are writing a book for middle school parents and developing an interactive Web-based science and health curriculum explaining how alcohol affects adolescents' brains and bodies. Based on extensive research, the AAAS team suggests five steps parents can take to talk with their kids about alcohol. Find Teachable Moments -- We live in a culture of celebrity. If a celebrity your child admires admits to a drinking problem, or an instance of alcohol abuse occurs in your community, talk about it. Ask your middle school student if she knows anyone who drinks alcohol and whether it is at parties or has been brought into her school.
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