CCSA, 2007.Substance Abuse in Canada:Youth in Focus

CCSA, 2007.Substance Abuse in Canada:Youth in Focus

Other resources that may be helpful (from LRADG & Youth Workgroup June minutes –‘York Region update’)

CCSA, 2007.Substance Abuse in Canada:Youth in Focus

CCSA, 2011. Cross- Canada Report on Student Alcohol and Drug Use

CCSA, 2006. Harm Reduction Policies and Programs for Youth

CCSA, 2010. Building on Our Strengths: Canadian Standards for School-based Youth Substance Abuse Prevention

CCSA, 2010. Stronger Together: Canadian Standards for Community-based Youth Substance Abuse Prevention

**CCSA, 2011. Strengthening Our Skills: Canadian Guidelines for Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Family Skills Program(reviewed by Waterloo)

**NIAAA,2013. Parenting to Prevent Childhood Alcohol Use

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/adolescentflyer/adolflyer.htm

  • Outlines 4 parental styles – i.e. authoritative parents with high control and discipline along with high warmth and responsiveness promotes healthy decision-making about alcohol in adolescents
  • Modeling –adolescents whose parents allowed them to drink at home and/or provided alcohol experienced the steepest escalation in drinking and drink more outside of the home; less likely to drink heavily in homes where parents have specific rules against drinking at a young age; permissive attitudes toward adolescent drinking, combined with poor communication and unhealthy modeling can lead teens into unhealthy relationships with alcohol
  • Genetics – ancestry can play a part in response, tolerance and attitudes towards drinking; personality traits and psychiatric problems caused by genetics can influence responses to alcohol
  • Teens do listen to parental messages about drinking if conveyed with authority and consistently
  • Recommendations for parents: talk early and often about alcohol; establish policies early on regarding setting consistent expectations and enforcing rules; work with other parents to monitor where kids are gathering; work in and with the community to promote dialogue about underage drinking; be aware of legislation about providing alcohol to your own children; never provide alcohol to someone else’s child

**NIAAA, 2013. A Developmental Perspective on Underage Alcohol Use

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA78/AA78.htm

  • Outlines how developmental factors influence drinking and risk for drinking: personality and behavior – those with more persistent personality and behavior problems most likely to experience more chronic severe forms of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in adulthood; family dynamics – most effective family environment have greater warmth, moderate discipline and limited stress; peer relationships and culture – peers who drink may encourage experimentation with alcohol; gene-environmental interaction – the environment is more influential in the start of alcohol use that genetics; brain development – differences in brain region maturation contributes to increased risk-taking behaviors common during adolescence as frontal cortex responsible for self-regulation, decision-making, behavioral control develops more gradually as one ages and through experiences; differences in sensitivity to alcohol – adolescents are less sensitive to negative effects of alcohol intoxication such as sedation, hangover and loss of coordination; thus, may be at higher risk for consuming more drinks and able to drink larger amounts without experiencing the same physiological effects as adults
  • Discusses how drinking can influence development in childhood to adolescence – drink earlier likely to become a heavy drinker during adolescence and to experience alcohol abuse or dependence in adulthood; chronic heavy drinking during adolescence linked to cognitive deficits and alterations in brain activity and structure ; late adolescence – alcohol use in late adolescence associated with problems in adulthood such as drug dependence, antisocial behavior, and depression

**Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, Start Talking Before They Start Drinking: A Family Guide

http://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/media/underage_brochure_508final.pdf

  • Handbook for parents covers: What you need to know – about a standard drink, underage drinking, alcohol and judgement; risks; teen years; family influence; What you need to say – communication with your youth about alcohol & underage drinking, your family beliefs & history, around alcohol; What you need to do – take action, set clear rules; Activities – to do with your youth to open the dialogue about alcohol

NIAAA, 2013.Focus on Young Adult Drinking (Journal: Alcohol Research & Health – many articles on young adults)

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh284/toc28-4.htm

*reviewed and summarized