What We Know

Years of research has demonstrated that parents retain the most influence in a child’s life regarding the use of alcohol and drugs. When a child believes their parent or guardian views using substances as harmful or inappropriate, the child is less likely to engage in this risky behavior.

We also know:

-The earlier adolescents experiment with drugs, the more likely they are to have serious problems later

-Those who engage in substance use at age 15 and earlier are 5 x’s more likely to develop problems later

-When drinking is delayed until age 21 the risk of serious alcohol problems is decreased by 70%

-Each additional year of delayed drinking onset reduces the probability of alcohol dependence by 14%

-1 in 4 families suffer from some type of addiction

-According to a study from 1996-2013 by the American Journal of Public Health, the number of people currently being prescribed a benzodiazepine, such as Xanax or valium, rose by 67% and the average quantity of each prescription increased by 140%

The more educated we are the greater chance we have to help keep youth safe.