Most Powerful Influence

Studies show parents are the single most important influence on their children.

We ask you to LEAD - Listen, Educate And Discuss with your kids the dangers and consequences of underage drinking, warning signs and proper reactions to overconsumption/alcohol poisoning.

"One way to prevent alcohol abuse is to give children accurate information about alcohol, its properties and its effects on the body. If a child is well informed about the important aspects of alcohol and has a feeling of self-confidence, chances of abusing alcohol are greatly reduced. "Scare tactics" should not be used to change undesirable behavior. Clear expectations and rules are important and discipline should be consistent, if rules are broken. Finally, seek professional help."
- American Council on Alcoholism

Many good reasons exist why young people should not drink alcohol. It affects their young bodies physically, socially and mentally. According to the Washington State Alcohol and Drug Clearinghouse, parents are the single greatest influence upon their children's decision whether or not to use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.

Kids & Alcohol

Positive peer influence is just as strong as negative peer influence. North Dakota's youth are strong, independent, capable and competent, but live in a high anxiety, stressful time. Youth who are nonusers, are better able to cope with stress, make decisions and solve problems.

Alcohol affects all organs of the body including the brain, liver, heart, pancreas, sex hormones, kidneys and lungs. The brain alone controls body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. It accepts information about the world around us from our eyes, ears and nose. When alcohol enters the adolescent body, the brain becomes impaired.

How harmful is alcohol on the brain of a child or adolescent? According to the American Medical Association, along with other medical and alcohol experts, alcohol alters the brain's development and could potentially cause irreparable damage. Their study entitled, Harmful Consequences of Alcohol Use in the Brains of Children, Adolescents and College Students, found that drinkers had about 10 percent smaller hippocampi - the area of the brain that handles memory and learning. Alcohol is a sedative drug that can impair coordination, reflexes and judgment. Underage alcohol use contributes to early-onset alcohol abuse and dependence.

Socially, adolescents tend to drink to get high or drunk. Underage alcohol use contributes to their risk-taking and sensation-seeking behavior, as well as high-risk sexual behavior. Alcohol takes away inhibitions. It can mean the difference between a strong "NO" and date rape or, while driving, a near miss and a car crash.

A clear relationship exists between alcohol use and grade point average. In education, as little as two beers can be the difference between an A or a B grade when taking an exam. Parents and other caring adults can impact young people in their choices. It is important to carry on a continuing dialogue with youth on the subjects of drug and alcohol use, as well as role model expected behavior. Parental nonuse of alcohol during family recreation will set a positive example.

The use of alcohol under the age of 21 is illegal. Parents modeling respect for authority send a message that it is NOT okay to break the law. Parents have the job to set limits. Young people expect it and deep down they want it. If you aren't talking to your kids, about the dangers of alcohol, then who is?

    You are the one...
       You are the one who educates and
          the one who needs to discuss underage drinking
             is illegal and too much alcohol can kill.

Parents LEAD Program Office, PO Box 527, Dickinson, ND 58602-0527

Telephone: 701-225-4677 Fax: 701-225-8162 Web Site: www.ParentsLEAD.org

This Web site is disseminated under the sponsorship of the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Office of Traffic Safety in the interest of information exchange. The state of North Dakota assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof.

Information Sources: 2005 North Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey; Dr. Paul Griffin Jones; Health Alliance on Alcohol; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation; Phoenix House; Sociology Department of State University of New York, Professor David J. Hanson, Ph.D.; Students Against Destructive Decisions; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; US Department of Health & Human Services; Washington State Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse; collegedrinkingprevention.gov; connectingwithkids.com and ourdrink.com.