Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Have a Graduating Senior? Please Read!

Graduation for Tippecanoe County seniors has come and gone. As a parent of a recent high school graduate you are likely on an emotional roller coaster. One of the questions you may be asking yourself is this: What Do I Say to My Graduating Senior About College Next Year and All the Drinking and Partying That I Read About In The News? 


There’s good news and bad news. The bad is that those students drinking on college campuses are drinking more. However, the good news is there is an increase in students who abstain completely from alcohol or drink moderately.

Additional good news is more and more colleges are taking the issue of underage drinking and dangerous alcohol use seriously. Higher education is developing comprehensive prevention strategies that are making a difference like Social Norms, Brief Interventions and Alcohol Screening.

Any parent who reads the newspaper or watches the news has seen and heard tragic stories about dangerous drinking on college campuses. Parents are frightened by these stories and have every right to be. Because of this fear, I have seen a growing myth gain dangerous traction as a parent strategy.

What is this myth? -- More parents believe that allowing their high school senior a little rope regarding their drinking will give them the experience to practice safe and responsible drinking in college.

To read more about this from the Partnership at drugfree.org click here. 

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