Astounding statistics from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimates that over 11 million teens aged 12-20 drink on a regular basis. Even more astounding is that 65% of these teens are regular binge drinkers. A teen’s reason for drinking may be:
- Peer Pressure
- Stress at home or school
- To feel more mature or older
- Seeing their parents drinking
- To feel relaxed
If a parent genuinely doesn’t want their teen to consume alcohol, then the first steps begin with themselves. They need to lead by example and not drink in the home or around their teen. If a teen sees their parents consuming alcohol on a regular basis, it will make them feel drinking is an acceptable behavior.
Many parents choose to ignore situations or conversations that may make their teen or themselves uncomfortable. They may choose to avoid talking to their teen about alcohol. However, by having an open and informative conversation with their teen, they may be able to answer any questions or concerns the teen has. Choosing to ignore the situation will not make it better. Facing it and creating possible solutions will.
The main reason most teens decide to take their first sip of alcohol is peer pressure. Their friends may be doing it. In an attempt to act “cool” and fit in with the crowd, your teen may choose to drink. Your teen may want to feel older and more mature and thinks that drinking alcohol will help. He or she may like the initial sensations that drinking alcohol creates.
The reasons for teen alcohol abuse are endless. However, teens that have proactive parents who talk openly about the negative effects and consequences of alcohol abuse are less likely to drink.
If you suspect your teen has started to drink, it is important to look for these key physical symptoms:
- Red, glassy eyes
- Changed pupil size
- Hands that shake
- Clumsy or difficulty walking
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
Aside from the physical symptoms, you may also notice that your teen acts nervous or has bizarre, paranoid thoughts. Their speech may be either slurred or too quick to understand.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your teen and suspect alcohol abuse, it important to seek professional help immediately. In the same findings, statistics estimate that nearly 5,000 teens are killed every year in an alcohol related incident, such as a vehicle wreck, suicide, or homicide.
It may be difficult for your teen to quit drinking if they have been doing so for a while. It has now become an addiction that can’t be helped with simple at home discussions and changes. They now need to talk to a professional that can help them understand and consider the serious physical illnesses and diseases that alcohol abuse can cause, along with the social and emotional consequences.
Groups such as AA have been formed to offer guidance and support. In fact, AA was formed based on a Christian belief that God can help cure the addiction. If you feel that God can indeed play a role in your teen’s alcohol abuse, you may want to consider sending your teen to a Christian boarding school.
Christian boarding schools are created with the belief that a successful transition from childhood to adulthood can be done with a lifestyle and routine structure that will also educate a teen about spirituality.
Parents may want their child to get an education in a protected Christian environment. However, they may not be able to do this on their own. Christian boarding schools will provide 24 hour supervision that will allow the teen to speak with an experienced staff member at their pleasing. By not setting specific dates and times for guidance, teens are able to choose when to speak comfortably about their addiction.
If your teen’s drinking problem has lead to problems in their education, a Christian boarding school will tailor a program to fit the individual teen’s needs. Many students can graduate on time or even ahead following their structured educational program.
With statistics showing such a high abuse in alcohol among teens, it is important for parents to be well informed and aware of not only the symptoms, but also the effects that alcohol will have. An alcohol addiction so early in life can set a teen up for failure in college and the workforce.
However, parents who identify that their teen is addicted to alcohol can seek professional help immediately. This can lower your teen’s risk for alcohol dependency throughout adulthood.
If your teen is struggling with an addiction to alcohol and you wish to seek help through a Christian based boarding school that can tailor an academic, extracurricular, and sports schedule to fit your teen’s needs, contact a nearby Christian boarding school today for more information.
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