FOCUS ON PREVENTION Creating Safe and Joyful Holiday Celebrations Contributed by: Carroll County Substance Education Coalition The winter holidays are a time to enjoy the company of family, friends and co-workers. Where does substance use fit into this picture? The widespread availability of alcohol at holiday parties gives our youth many opportunities to sneak alcohol when no one is fooking or convince a relative to let them enjoy "just one" alcoholic beverage. And some parents may be more indlined to fet their teenagers have an alcoholic drink to share in a fámily toast, or otherwise share in the "holiday spirits." So, you might ask, where is the harm in that? Let's make a list. The younger a child is when he/she starts to drink, the more likely there will be alcohol-related problems later in life. Alcohol use by teens affects stil-developing brains and impairs memory and leaming. Teens who drink are more likely to commit or be the victim of violence (indluding sexual assault) and to experience stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts. By allowing underage drinking during the holidays, adults deprive teens of clear, common sense and consistent guidelines they need to make good choices all year long. It is dlear that parents who talk with their teens about underage drinking, set expectations for behavior, and enforce consequences for violating the rules are significantly less likely to have children who use alcohol. The silver lining in this holiday cloud can be found in widespread agreement among teens that their parents are significant forces when it comes to decisions about alcohol. There are some simple things that you can do to lessen the exposure of your children to holiday substances. Consider these holiday celebration tips: At your holiday gatherings, offer plenty of non-alcoholic foods, drinks and activities. Model responsible behavior by making sure that guests who have been drinking do not drive. Let your child know what to expect. Tell your children that adults may be drinking alcohol during the holidays, but under no circumstances are they allowed to. To lower the risk of alcohol poisoning, be sure to empty partially full alcoholic drinks. Children love to imitàte adults; if they have access to leftover drinks they may be tempted. Children are much more sensitive to alcohol than adults. Alcohol is found in beer, wine and distilled liquor, such as vodka, whiskey, rum or bourbon. It is also in perfumes, aftershave lotions, and mouthwashes. Vanilla and almond extracts also have high alcohol content. Make sure to keep all of these products out of the reach of children. Parents, grandparents and babysitters should also be extra vigilant during the holidays. Visitors often leave medicines on nightstand or in the bathroom,making them easily accessible to children. Medications given to senior citizens often do not have child-resistant closures, allowing children to open tem with very little difficulty. Also, purses of visitors may contain medicines and other potentially dangerous items. Remember that the homes of friends and relatives may not be poison-proof,particularly if children do not live there. Why not create some substance-free holiday traditions for your family? It's a great way to show your child that you can have fun during the holidays without alcohol or drugs. You can find a number of unique non-alcoholic recipes that can add flavor to your party by giving your guests healthy, tasty alternatives to alcoholic beveráges. Coalition Corner CCSEC l in 10 Carroll County teens reported drinking and driving Most teens killed in alcohol- CCSEC encourages more dialogue around underage drinking especially before related crashes involving teen drivers... are the young drivers themselves - and their passengers. and during the holiday season. The conversation should not be whether the behavior is right or wrong, but rather the health effects to the developing brains and bodies of children and youth. We need to move beyond debates and focus on health risks and safety implications. 0ur messages should be consistent and clear: underage drinking is unhealthy, unsafe, and unacceptable. Visit us at our office at 114 West Market Street in Mt. Carroll or check out our website at www. drugfreecarrollcounty.org which will be having information for parents and access to resources. All of us at CCSEC wish you a safe and joyful holiday season. For more information on how to encourage drug-free behavior and guide good choices,visit our website at: PARENTAL GUIDANCE REOQUIRED TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT NOT USING DRUGS www.drugfreecarrollcounty.com PG GET THE FACTS: For information on how to talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol - if you need help talking to your teens contact the Carroll County Substance Education Coalition at 815-244-0063 or email ccsec04@gmail.com. Funding for this message is awarded to the Carroll County Substance Education Coalition by SAMHSA's Drug Free Communities Grant. FOCUS ON PREVENTION Creating Safe and Joyful Holiday Celebrations Contributed by: Carroll County Substance Education Coalition The winter holidays are a time to enjoy the company of family, friends and co-workers. Where does substance use fit into this picture? The widespread availability of alcohol at holiday parties gives our youth many opportunities to sneak alcohol when no one is fooking or convince a relative to let them enjoy "just one" alcoholic beverage. And some parents may be more indlined to fet their teenagers have an alcoholic drink to share in a fámily toast, or otherwise share in the "holiday spirits." So, you might ask, where is the harm in that? Let's make a list. The younger a child is when he/she starts to drink, the more likely there will be alcohol-related problems later in life. Alcohol use by teens affects stil-developing brains and impairs memory and leaming. Teens who drink are more likely to commit or be the victim of violence (indluding sexual assault) and to experience stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts. By allowing underage drinking during the holidays, adults deprive teens of clear, common sense and consistent guidelines they need to make good choices all year long. It is dlear that parents who talk with their teens about underage drinking, set expectations for behavior, and enforce consequences for violating the rules are significantly less likely to have children who use alcohol. The silver lining in this holiday cloud can be found in widespread agreement among teens that their parents are significant forces when it comes to decisions about alcohol. There are some simple things that you can do to lessen the exposure of your children to holiday substances. Consider these holiday celebration tips: At your holiday gatherings, offer plenty of non-alcoholic foods, drinks and activities. Model responsible behavior by making sure that guests who have been drinking do not drive. Let your child know what to expect. Tell your children that adults may be drinking alcohol during the holidays, but under no circumstances are they allowed to. To lower the risk of alcohol poisoning, be sure to empty partially full alcoholic drinks. Children love to imitàte adults; if they have access to leftover drinks they may be tempted. Children are much more sensitive to alcohol than adults. Alcohol is found in beer, wine and distilled liquor, such as vodka, whiskey, rum or bourbon. It is also in perfumes, aftershave lotions, and mouthwashes. Vanilla and almond extracts also have high alcohol content. Make sure to keep all of these products out of the reach of children. Parents, grandparents and babysitters should also be extra vigilant during the holidays. Visitors often leave medicines on nightstand or in the bathroom,making them easily accessible to children. Medications given to senior citizens often do not have child-resistant closures, allowing children to open tem with very little difficulty. Also, purses of visitors may contain medicines and other potentially dangerous items. Remember that the homes of friends and relatives may not be poison-proof,particularly if children do not live there. Why not create some substance-free holiday traditions for your family? It's a great way to show your child that you can have fun during the holidays without alcohol or drugs. You can find a number of unique non-alcoholic recipes that can add flavor to your party by giving your guests healthy, tasty alternatives to alcoholic beveráges. Coalition Corner CCSEC l in 10 Carroll County teens reported drinking and driving Most teens killed in alcohol- CCSEC encourages more dialogue around underage drinking especially before related crashes involving teen drivers... are the young drivers themselves - and their passengers. and during the holiday season. The conversation should not be whether the behavior is right or wrong, but rather the health effects to the developing brains and bodies of children and youth. We need to move beyond debates and focus on health risks and safety implications. 0ur messages should be consistent and clear: underage drinking is unhealthy, unsafe, and unacceptable. Visit us at our office at 114 West Market Street in Mt. Carroll or check out our website at www. drugfreecarrollcounty.org which will be having information for parents and access to resources. All of us at CCSEC wish you a safe and joyful holiday season. For more information on how to encourage drug-free behavior and guide good choices,visit our website at: PARENTAL GUIDANCE REOQUIRED TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT NOT USING DRUGS www.drugfreecarrollcounty.com PG GET THE FACTS: For information on how to talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol - if you need help talking to your teens contact the Carroll County Substance Education Coalition at 815-244-0063 or email ccsec04@gmail.com. Funding for this message is awarded to the Carroll County Substance Education Coalition by SAMHSA's Drug Free Communities Grant.