Communicating Across Generations 

I recently read that some families now have five living generations. Imagine that. Each generation has a totally different world view and processes information in a different way. However simply engaging with others remains the key to communicating effectively.

With prom season and graduation parties around the corner, now is the perfect time to set ground rules to prevent underage drinking and drug use among pre-teens and teens. Talk to your kids regularly about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. Lead by example and model healthy behavior. 

A recent BMC Public Health* study suggests that a bottle of wine per week is the equivalent of smoking 5-10 cigarettes in that same time period in terms of cancer risk. In fact, as many as 70 percent of Americans are unaware that alcohol use is a risk factor for cancer. This calls in to question the socially accepted idea that a moderate amount of alcohol consumption isn’t harmful or is even beneficial. Especially since kids who start drinking before 15 are 5 times more likely to become alcoholics (SAMHSA).

Informed Families is here to help you have these conversations with your kids, but first have a conversation with the adults surrounding your kids. Take a look at our Safe Homes Smart Parents tips and resources for advice on how to keep your kids safe and healthy during this time when socializing peaks and the pressure to engage in unsafe behaviors increases. We also have tools that you can use to help spread awareness of drug prevention in your larger community.

Peggy

*BMC Public Health is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on the epidemiology of disease and the understanding of all aspects of public health. The journal has a special focus on the social determinants of health, the environmental, behavioral, and occupational correlates of health and disease, and the impact of health policies, practices and interventions on the community.