USC Health Now

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die each year in the U.S. as a result of underage drinking. Here, USC experts weigh in on what you can do to prevent alcohol abuse among kids.

by Katie Neith

While recent survey data shows a slight decline in habitual alcohol use among 12-20 year olds, underage drinking remains a significant danger to American youth.

In fact, The New York Times recently noted a study that found nearly half of 10-year-olds reported tasting alcohol. Published in the January issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, the study found that of the children who had tasted alcohol, one out of three parents were not aware of the consumption.

Ronald L. Alkana, Pharm.D., Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Curricular Development at the USC School of Pharmacy, says the findings of the study do not surprise him.

“Many cultures support tasting alcohol as part of meals and other situations,” he points out.

Alkana also says that the influence on future drinking behavior of tasting alcohol at a young age varies from person to person.

“Tasting alcohol at a young age may increase or decrease or have no effect on future alcohol abuse,” he says. “It would depend to a large extent on the context of the experience and other factors.”

However, he points out that ingesting larger intoxicating amounts of alcohol at a young age is associated with an increased risk of future alcohol abuse. In addition, children from families in which there are members who have had problems with alcohol are at greater risk for developing alcohol-related problems, says Alkana.

“This does not mean that they will develop problems, but there is a greater risk than if there was not a family history of problems,” he says.

Preventing use

Alkana says that to protect young kids from future use of alcohol, parents need to have realistic discussions with their children regarding the relationship of alcohol to society and the problems alcohol intake can cause when used during development.

“Talking to your preteen child about drugs [including alcohol] can be a nerve-wracking event for both parents and children,” says Dorian Traube, Ph.D., assistant professor at the USC School of Social Work. “Do not let your fears dissuade you from sitting down with your child and having an honest conversation about the dangers of alcohol.”

She points to the saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment,” to remind parents that the earlier and more consistently they can talk to their kids about the dangers of drinking, the better, as it is much easier to prevent children from using drugs than it is to intervene once they have started experimenting. Traube also points out that parents need to be even more vigilant with alcohol than some other drugs, as it is much easier for kids to get.

“Most important, parents should set a good example,” says Alkana. “Moderate alcohol use, do not drink when driving, do not drink as an escape and do not glorify the intake or abuse of alcohol.”

Signs of Trouble

According to Alkana, changes in school performance or social behavior may be a warning sign of alcohol use in kids. Getting caught with alcohol or being intoxicated may indicate alcohol abuse.

The Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Web site, founded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the Robert wood Johnson Foundation, lists some additional signs that may warn of childhood drinking:

• Mood changes: flare-ups on temper, irritability and defensiveness
• Rebelling against family rules
• Switching friends, along with a reluctance to have parents get to know the new friends
• A “nothing matters” attitude; sloppy appearance, a lack of involvement in former interests and a general low energy
• Physical or mental problems: memory lapses, poor concentration, bloodshot eyes, lack of coordination or slurred speech.

If you think your child is drinking, “Identify that there is a problem, discuss it with your child and seek help and/or counseling if is not resolved,” says Alkana.

Some helpful Web sites for parents or guardians who want to learn more about preteen and teen alcohol use and how to prevent it are:

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov
The Cool Spot (sponsored by the NIAAA): http://www.thecoolspot.gov
Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free: http://www.alcoholfreechildren.org

Traube also suggest the Web site, Parents-The Anti-Drug (www.theantidrug.com) and the following books:

• The Teen Code: How to Talk to Them about Sex, Drugs, and Everything Else – Teenagers Reveal What Works Best by Rhett Godfrey
• Just Say Know: Talking with Kids about Drugs and Alcohol by Cynthia Khun, Scott Swartzwelder, and Wilson Wilkie