Liz Hamilton –
BNParents.org and Chestnut Health Systems
BNParents.org -- contracts that can help guide conversations are available
online. (Expectations for a night out)
http://www.bnparents.org
https://www.facebook.com/BParents/
https://www.pinterest.com/bnparents/
Challenges teens face when making decisions about alcohol, marijuana and
other substances. The impact of these decisions on the health and wellbeing of our kids as well as providing helpful insights to support the
relationships you have with your child and keeping him safe.
Many people aren't open to talk about alcohol and other drugs. We don't
realize how many people under 21 are in the Emergency Department for
alcohol related illness on any weekend -- 10 or so. It's a real problem in our
community.
There is an Illinois Social Host Law now in place.
Providing alcohol or a space where underage drinking occurs is a Class A
Misdemeanor and you can be fined a minimum of $500.
The Risks associated with Alcohol use can be both immediate and long
term:

Drunk driving, physical and sexual assaults are some immediate risks

Increased Illicit Drug Use
Teens who drink are over 22 times more likely to use marijuana and 50
times more likely to use cocaine than those who never drink.

Increased sexual activity and unprotected sex

Violence
Annually, approximately 700,000 students are assaulted by other
students who have been drinking

Bad Grades

Increased risk of alcohol addiction
90% of addictions have roots in the teen years.

Traffic Accidents
Traffic accidents are the number one killer of teens and over 1/3 of
teen traffic deaths are alcohol related

Impaired mental health
Frequent use of alcohol has been associated with low self-esteem,
depression, conduct disorders, anti-social behavior and anxiety in
adolescents.
Marijuana is outpacing alcohol as a public health problem,
In states where marijuana is legalized for recreational use, the age is still 21
(just like alcohol). This is because of the danger to the developing teen and
adolescents.
THC levels in marijuana have gone from 3.5% in 1995 to 13% in 2013. It's
much stronger and more concentrated now.
High THC levels are associated with paranoia and psychosis
ER admissions:
2004 - 66,000
2011 - 129,000
Higher potency of THC accelerates addiction
Easier to get high makes you more vulnerable to addiction
Almost 35% of 12th grade students have used marijuana in the past
year and almost 25% have used it in the past 30 days.
Marijuana also impairs driving ability; Can't measure when you had it last
like alcohol
Longer lasting cognitive effects for a teen, potentially even irreversible
Research suggests marijuana use during the teen years creates
structural changes in two regions of the brain
-Amygdala - processing emotions, memories and fear responses
-Nucleus Accumbens - core of motivation, pleasure and pain,
every decision you make
Can lead to an 8 point drop in IQ
Strongly correlated with:
-Schizophrenia
-Anxiety
-Depression
Why are there all of the consequences for teens?
Brain development isn't complete until the mid-20s
Everything a teen experiences is felt more intensely than someone
with a fully developed brain.
This include music, drugs and sweets
The brain is going through a period of heightened neuroplasticity.
-It's a time of great opportunity and tremendous risk
It can take an adult years to develop an addition; A teen can develop
an addiction in months
The region of the brain responsible for decision making, impulse control
and goal setting is still developing in your child all through high school and
beyond. And, this is the first area impacted by alcohol causing further
impairment to an area already underdeveloped.
Teens are more resilient to the sedative effects of alcohol


Motor coordination is not as impacted
o Teens tend to drink more without understanding how their
thought processes are impacted. They often don't realize their
thought process is compromised
Tend not to have hangovers
o Don't get the immediate response that drinking was a bad idea
The brain is not fully myelinated causing slower processing and longer
lasting impacts.
Cognitive impacts of marijuana use can be up to a week or more,
where an adult may be a few hours.
Cold Cognition - Developing (ex. academic knowledge and reasoning)
Hot Cognition - Still Developing (ex. split second decisions involving friends)
It's like driving a car with sensitive gas pedal and bad brakes.
It's so important to talk about expectations and exit plans to get out of a
situation if needed.
Teens do not approach risk like adults
 Court Risk
 View Risk and Reward different from adult
 Varies by situation and is dependent on who a teen is with
As children grow, our roles with them change:
Age 1-7 - We are their teacher
Age 8-13 - We are their facilitator and help make sense of things in their
world
Age 14-21 - We are their coach - doing things more from the sidelines;
relationship with the teen is so important; We need to keep the bonds
strong
Your child is not only looking at you for guidance, they also know you are
looking at them
TALK WITH YOUR TEENS ABOUT ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND WELLNESS


Frequently talk AND LISTEN
Use "teachable moments"
The Seven Steps for Home:
1. Set clear no alcohol or marijuana rules
2. Establish consequences
a. Consider having the teen involved in determining consequences
3. Enforce and follow through
4. Review rules regularly
5. Know where they are
6. Know who they are with
7. Know what they are doing
Is there a resource at U-High where there can be anonymous reporting
when we see a student using alcohol or drugs???
The 7 Reasons to Leave the Party -- Judge Costigan gives the presentation
to high schools -- talks about the legal consequences