Be sure graduation events send right message to students

By Kelly Vander Werff

Your teen may be graduating soon, but that doesn't mean it's time to let go. It's time to celebrate all that your student has achieved and the exciting future ahead of them.

Graduation time should be a fun celebration. But now more than ever, it also is a time to talk openly with your teen about your expectations and values around alcohol and other drug use to help them avoid choices that put their safety at risk.

Here are some tips for keeping your teen safe and healthy through the graduation celebration period.

l Reinforce your expectations. Talk to your teen about the risks of drinking alcohol and clearly state your expectations. Research confirms that parents who have these conversations do make a difference, even with older teens. Talking with your graduate now could prevent serious problems later. Your teens are never “too old” to hear what you believe and value around drinking and drug use.

l Encourage your teen to make each moment count. This is an exciting time in their lives. Let them know you don't want them to miss out. One bad choice could change their lives forever.

l Set a good example. It is counterproductive to allow teens to drink alcohol or use marijuana under your supervision. Research shows that parents who have a no-tolerance policy against drinking and other drug use have teens who have fewer problems with substance use than parents who allow them to drink or smoke under their supervision. If there is alcohol at your graduation party, make sure the adults at the party set a good example for teens by drinking responsibly. Do not allow teens at the party to drink.

l Take steps to change what is seen as normal behavior. Social norms in many communities encourage underage drinking around graduation time by viewing it as a rite of passage. Research confirms that the teenage brain is still developing and is very sensitive to alcohol's effects on judgment and decision making. Work with your schools and community to change the view that reckless teen partying is normal and OK. It will make your job as a parent much easier.

Kelly Vander Werff, Prevention Manager, MECCA Services, Iowa City, submitted this article on behalf of The Partnership for Alcohol Safety, Doug Beardsley, Director; Johnson County Public Health; and Superintendent Lane Plugge, Iowa City Community School District. More information: www.meccaservices.com, www.alcoholpartnership.org, www.theantidrug.com and www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov