Parents with teenagers
SECONDARY SCHOOL (13+ YEARS)
As a parent, you still have the power to positively influence your teenager’s drinking behaviour. Even when your teenager has already started drinking, it is not too late to talk about alcohol and to set the boundaries for their drinking behaviour.
If your teenager hasn’t started drinking, there are good reasons to encourage them to hold off until their late teens at least.
“There is increasing concern that repeated episodes of intoxication may affect the maturing of the brain of young people. During late adolescence, the brain continues to grow and develop and this process is not complete until their early 20s. One particularly important part of the brain that matures late is the pre-frontal cortex which is involved in planning and judgment. It is accepted that alcohol can damage brain cells, so it is possible that excessive drinking could impair development of mature thinking in adult life. We just don’t know for sure. The community needs more scientific study in this important area to help us understand how to safely use alcohol. In the meantime it makes sense to stick to limits.” Professor Paul Haber, Addiction Medicine, University of Sydney.
“Heavy drinking in adolescence may sometimes be a sign of mental health disturbance such as depression or social phobia”. Professor Ross Kalucy, School of Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre.
“Research shows that by delaying the onset of drinking until at least the age of 15 years, the more likely your children will become responsible drinkers in later life.” Dr Andrew Rochford, Accident and Emergency, Sydney Royal North Shore Hospital.