Underage Drinking Campaign
10/7/09 | 6:47 pmThe youth substance abuse task force in Medford is comprised of Medford community sectors that play a key role in the lives of Medford Residents. With the help of some of those individuals Medford High Schools SADD(Students Against Destructive Decisions) group created the messages.
The SADD group were educated about the process and criteria needed for an awareness campaign by two professionals one being Tufts University’s Ian Wong, Director of Alcohol and Health Education. In total there are three concepts within this awareness campaign to be spread out over this school year. Our ultimate goal is for parents to receive more information on how to talk to their teens/pre-teens about underage drinking.
Parents with children of all ages can find these resources helpful and informative.
Parents, Talk to your child Today and Tomorrow
The Anti-Drug program provides parents with information on popular drugs teens are using as well as parenting advice on how to detect if your child is using.
Drug Free America provides resources for parents to educate themselves on drug prevention, intervention and how to raise a healthy teenager. It provides tools for: communicating with your child, understanding teens, how to detect drug use, and how to protect your child.
too SMART to START a website from the federal governments Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) provides resources for parents on how to communicate to their child about underage drinking. Provides ways to help parents prevent their child from using substances and offers facts to help educate the child during the communication.
NIAAA. In a comprehensive study published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, researchers highlight topics such as; why adolescents drink, what the risks are, and how underage drinking can be prevented. This article gives practical solutions and provides some explanations for why youth are so easily influenced to start binge drinking at such a young age even though there are so many people saying “just say no”.
Resources on how to raise a healthy child.
Casel provides resources for parents on how to raise a healthy child. They provide tips on the social and emotional development of your child. The resources below offer advice for each stage of your child’s development.
- Children ages 0-5
- Children ages 6-8
- Children ages 9-11
- Children ages 12-13
- Teens ages 14-18
Intervention and Treatment
Is your child showing signs or symptoms of substance abuse?
Mass Helpline provides referrals for Alcohol and other drug problems and related concerns. The helpline is committed to linking consumers with current information about treatment and prevention services throughout Massachusetts. Mass Helpline operates 24 hours a day and has interpreters available.
Alcoholic Anonymous is a program designed to support individuals coping with the alcoholism addiction.
Al-Anon/Alateen is an intervention program that offers family support around alcoholism. Their mission is to target alcoholism at the family level. They assist the family by offering them support while they conquer the issues facing the addiction.
Family Anonymous is a support group for families that offers weekly meetings to communicate the apparent issues that are affecting multiple family members. The issues that can be addressed range from adolescent problems to substance abuse.
