I am sure most of us remember the yearly mock car crash in high school that was planned to raise awareness about DWI. When I think about the consequences of underage drinking, that image comes to mind: the (fake) bloody bodies of my classmates, surrounded by police and firemen using the Jaws of Life to evacuate them from a smashed vehicle.
People are generally aware of severe consequences of underage drinking such as arrests or deaths due to DWI, getting in trouble with the police, or potential for future substance use disorders.
Communicating the potential for severe consequences is extremely important, but not every teenager will experience a DWI arrest if they drink alcohol. Parents should make time to discuss consequences that are perceived as “less severe” that many more teenagers will experience if they drink, such as how alcohol can impact schoolwork, sports, and mental health.
#1. Schoolwork
Based on a 2020 youth survey of over 1,800 Cortland County 7th-12th graders, (97%) of Cortland County students try to do their best in school sometimes, often, or almost always.1 Teens in our community want to do well in school.
But, they may not know that kids who drink alcohol are more likely to have academic problems than students who do not drink.3 As a parent, you can communicate to your child that alcohol can prevent them from doing their best work in school which can, as we know, have lifelong consequences.
#2. Athletics
Alcohol not only has an immediate physical impact (such as headache, nausea, and fatigue), but could also affect an athlete’s motor skills, strength, and power for up to three days after they drink.4 If your child is working on their sprint speed to stop that soccer ball or three-point accuracy at the buzzer, Saturday’s ‘fun’ could harm their performance at Tuesday’s home game.
In 2020, over 58% of Cortland County students in 7th-12th grade reported participating in sports.1 Athletics are a vital part of our community here in Cortland County, and our teenagers need to be aware of how alcohol use effects themselves and their teammates. If caught drinking, teens will also face the consequences of their school code of conduct policies.
#3. Mental Health
Some teenagers may drink alcohol as a response to stress related to schoolwork, family issues, or friendships.3 In 2020, About 71% of 7th-12th graders in Cortland County report that they have been stressed or concerned about something on most days in the past month.1 Alcohol use may also increase anxiety and depression in youth.3
Through communication, parents can address their child’s stress, as well as discuss how alcohol may have negative impacts on their mental health.
References
1.Pride Surveys. New York State Partnership for Success Student Survey: Cortland County Grades 7-12. 2020.
2. Make a Difference: Talk to your child about alcohol-Parents. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/make-a-difference-child-alcohol
3.Talk.They Hear You. SAMHSA. https://www.samhsa.gov/underage-drinking
4.Alcohol and Athletic Performance. National Collegiate Athletic Association. https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Alcohol%20and%20Athletic%20Performance%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
