Opinion

Talk to kids about perils of drinking

Posted April 06, 2016 12:01 am

As a part of Alcohol Awareness Month this April, I would like to encourage parents to talk to their teens about the dangers of underage drinking and the impact it can have on their young lives.

This year's theme, Talk Early, Talk Often, focuses on how parents play a significant role in preventing and reducing the incidence of underage alcohol and drug use. Fostering healthy and responsible attitudes, talking openly and honestly, encouraging supportive relationships and showing teens that their opinions and decisions matter are all ways to help prevent the use of alcohol and drugs.

According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, teens that learn about the dangers of underage drinking from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to experiment than teens that don't.

If your teen has already begun experimenting with alcohol or drugs, Renz Center has an adolescent early intervention program that offers individual, group and family counseling. Call (847) 742-3545 for more information, or visit www.renzcenter.org.

Jerry Skogmo

Renz Executive Director

Elgin

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