QUESTIONS PARENTS ASK

Q: So many teenagers have begun to drink at parties by the middle of high school. How can I prevent my teen from joining in?

A: You can't necessarily "prevent" your teen from drinking or other activities! Teens make these decisions when their parents aren't around. We do know that some underage drinking, especially in the older teenage years, is common. Parents can give a clear message to their teenagers about drinking ("I don't want you to drink at this stage of your life because it puts your personal safety at risk") and have a surprising amount of influence. Discuss with your teens what choices they have when they find themselves in a situation where some of their friends may be drinking. If you find that your teens are drinking at parties, you may want to focus on ways that they can increase their safety and responsible decision-making in these situations.

Q: What are the dangers of teenage drinking, as long as my teen doesn't drink and drive?

A: There are many dangers associated with drinking during the teenage years. Even with just a few drinks, alcohol begins to affect judgment. Drinkers then may make decisions that put their own and others' health and safety at risk. Teenagers themselves readily admit that when they drink they often behave in ways they later regret. This can range from "acting stupid" to saying something rude to a friend or getting involved sexually. Fights, damage to property, injuries, unwanted pregnancy, STD's (sexually transmitted diseases), trying other drugs and riding with an impaired driver are all possible harmful outcomes of teenage drinking. Even young drivers who have not been drinking themselves (as "the designated driver"), can be affected by having drunk passengers. Their ability to drive safely can be seriously challenged.

Sometimes party drinking takes the form of "chugging" or "funnelling" - power drinking or contests where young people drink as much as they can as quickly as they can. This is particularly risky, because drinking in this manner can cause severe intoxication ("alcohol poisoning") leading to stoppage of breathing and even death. Death can also occur because a person becomes unconscious and chokes on his or her own vomit. Parents need to discuss with their teen about calling for emergency assistance when they find someone in this situation.

Q: Isn't it better if teenagers are allowed to drink in their own home, so they don't feel it's something to "get away with"?

A: Many parents do feel that if alcohol is not made to be the "forbidden fruit", it will lose some of its attraction for a teenager. In fact, most young people are introduced to drinking in their own homes. However, there is a clear difference between the underage (but legal) drinking in a family situation (such as at times of celebration or on a religious holiday) and the kind of drinking that underage teenagers do with their friends. This kind of party drinking tends to be unrestrained and is in fact, illegal. Having a parent present in the home when there is a teenage drinking party does not prevent the harmful or legal consequences of underage drinking. If a party is held at your home, you can be held legally responsible for whatever happens at the party. You are responsible even if you are not there or if you did not know about it or you did not provide the alcohol.

Q: Is the marihuana available today different than the marihuana of the 60's and 70's?

A: The strength of marihuana has increased. Today different varieties of marihuana are being grown across North America, much of it indoors, or "hydroponically". Using up-to-date growing techniques, marihuana growers are able to cross-cultivate different varieties to create new and unique types of marihuana. This marihuana has a consistently higher level of THC, the "psychoactive" component of marihuana.

Q: Is marihuana less harmful than tobacco or alcohol?

A: The harmful effects of tobacco use and alcohol abuse on individuals and society are well known. For example, we know that tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths in Canada. And we are aware that domestic violence and many traffic injuries and deaths are closely linked to alcohol abuse. Marihuana is not in these two categories.

Marihuana does share some harmful health effects in common with tobacco, such as the cancer-causing agents and damage to the breathing system. Marihuana has similar harmful effects as alcohol, such as impaired judgment, coordination and concentration. Marihuana use also poses risks to work place and traffic safety.

Evidence is beginning to show that long-term marihuana use poses a risk for memory and selective attention that nicotine or moderate daily drinking is not associated with.

Q: With the laws concerning marihuana going through changes, it seems that there may be very few legal consequences if a teenager is caught with marihuana. What impact can a parent have in this situation?

A: It is true that Canadian laws concerning cannabis possession are undergoing review and change. If possession of smaller amounts of marihuana is "decriminalized", it means that it is removed from the scope of the criminal courts. However, if a teen is caught with marihuana, a fine will be levied and the parents will be informed. You will have to make your concerns about your teen's health and safety and your family standards clear to your teen and work through the consequences and issues as a family.

Q: What is "harm reduction" and is this an approach I should take with my child?

A: Harm reduction is the approach that our first priority should be to try to reduce the problems and harms that can happen when a person is using drugs. Examples of this approach would be giving heroin addicts clean needles to decrease their risk of contracting HIV/AIDS or hepatitis and advising those who attend "raves" or clubs and use ecstasy to keep drinking water to avoid becoming dehydrated.

Many parents who advise their children against smoking, drinking and use of any drug, will add, as their bottom line, that if their teens do happen to drink or use drugs, they can call their parents to ensure they have a safe way home.

In another example of harm reduction, parents who do not want their children to use alcohol can still warn their teens to never leave their drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) unattended in a social setting or take a drink from anyone other than someone they know and trust or a restaurant or bar server, in order to prevent a drug from being slipped into their drink. Particularly as teens grow older and parents realize that they have begun to drink, parents can caution them to increase their personal safety by having a sober "buddy" around and drinking less and on fewer occasions.

Parents can also make sure that their teenage children have all the facts about tobacco, alcohol and other drugs so that when their teens do make their own choices about drug use, they will take precautions to decrease the problems that smoking, drinking or drug use can bring. In giving these "harm reduction" messages, parents can continue to emphasize to their children that the most certain way to protect their personal safety is to not drink or use any drugs at all.