Be smart this summer
When school’s out and downtime’s aplenty, it’s easy to see how today’s youth can pick up bad habits.
June has arrived and has brought some beautiful weather as we await the official start of summer. Also, recently, we have once again experienced prom season and have seen high schools and colleges graduate thousands of local students as they move on the next stage of their lives… congratulations to all of the graduates. Our youth have moved through some of the most important milestones of their lives and through a time of increased risky behavior and experimentation… only to be challenged with summer… a period that research has shown to be when first time use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs peaks.
The summer months mean much more than sunshine and relaxation. It is a period where youth have more unstructured time, less supervision… it’s a time for parties, celebrations, vacations, weddings, staying out late, and more people driving on our roads.
It is also a time of transition and growth for youth and young adults. Throughout these summer months, we want to be mindful of their health, wellness and safety.
Some of the basics of prevention during the summer months for everyone is to use sunscreen, avoid too much sun, stay hydrated, wear loose clothing, avoid exercise during the hottest part of the day, use bug repellant, drive safely, including boating safely. And, I would be remiss as a Prevention Specialist if I did not remind everyone to keep alcohol out of the hands of our youth. For adults, please be responsible in your alcohol use. There is a reason that the drinking age is 21 and that the maximum blood alcohol level is .08. Laws help guide behavior.
Underage drinking is a serious public health issue in the United States. Alcohol is one of the most widely-used substances of abuse that poses enormous health and safety risks.
We are all aware that alcohol can affect our motor skills, judgment, peripheral vision, depth perception, night vision and balance. When it comes to operating a car, motorcycle or boat, it is critical to remember alcohol’s effects on the body. There are many more people on the road during the summer months, so it is increasingly important to be mindful of not getting behind the wheel of a vehicle and do not get in the car with someone who is impaired.
When it comes to our youth, researchers have found the first time use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs peaks in the months of June and July. With more free, often unsupervised time, thousands more youth are experimenting with substances, including alcohol. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) that is administered by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), by the age of 15, 33 percent of youth had used alcohol in the past 30 days and by the age of 18, 60 percent had used alcohol in the past 30 days.
When youth experiment, they most often do not think of the consequences. The developing brains of youth and alcohol are not a healthy mix and pose a significant danger during summer activities like swimming, bicycling, sports, etc. If their brains are impaired through alcohol, they are unable to judge depth in the water and monitor their body temperature, use proper coordination and motor skills and make decisions on protecting their health and safety. Alcohol can also decrease inhibitions, which can lead to tragic consequences for them.
Given this, I encourage parents and guardians to continue to have open dialogue with their children about the reality of substance use and experimentation. Let you children know your expectations, boundaries and consequences of their behavior. Monitor activities and friends that they are spending time with. And always send the right message by not allowing youth to “try” alcohol even if they are in our home and will not be driving. Remember, we are the role models for our children. We want our message to be clear and understood. It is about their health, safety and wellbeing… something we don’t want to take a risk of harming.