Jan 8, 2008 11:30 pm US/Central
Good Question: Can Parents Stop Youthful Drinking?
(WCCO)
At least three young Minnesotans have died since Oct. 2007, all believed to be related to alcohol abuse. On Saturday, 20-year-old Brian Threet was found dead in his St. Cloud apartment.
Last month, Winona State University student Jenna Foellmi died in an off-campus apartment. She had been binge drinking for more than 12 hours.
And in October, former Minnesota State University Mankato student Amanda Jax died of acute alcohol poisoning after celebrating her 21st birthday.
"What we need to do, culturally, and as individual parents, is communicate our concern," said Ariel Johanna Cohen, Director of Health Services at Hazelden's Center for Youth and Families in Plymouth, Minn. "We want them to say no to drinking prior to the age of 21. We know for a fact that parents who take a stand and say 'no' and mean 'no' have success."
There are two schools of thought when it comes to alcohol and parenting. Cohen supports the idea of preaching abstinence. Other researchers believe the concept of harm reduction is more effective.
"The abstinence plan is stupid and no kid is going to listen," e-mailed Sara Nelson. "I started drinking in January of my senior year of high school and it was with a group of friends different than the ones my parents knew well."
In Minnesota, it is legal to give an underage child an alcoholic drink in your home. In Wisconsin, according to the state Department of Revenue, it's legal to go into a bar and order your underage child an alcoholic beer.
"What we want to do is set clear expectations and be very clear about what we expect of our children. If drinking is not OK, it's not OK in our home either if they are underage," said Cohen.
"As soon as we say, 'I know you're going to drink', you've given some sort of permission," she continued. "What we want to say is, 'I'd prefer you don't drink. This isn't safe for you.'"
Rob Turrisi, a researcher at Penn State University, believes that a simple conversation between parents and children, prior to college, can reduce the amount a child drinks. Turrisi sent informational pamphlets out to parents, urging them to talk with their children about alcohol abuse.
Hundreds of students were surveyed when they went to college, and they reported being significantly more temperate in their drinking than students in a control group whose parents did not receive the pamphlets.
"I think some parents are going to be surprised and think you're taking an unreasonably hard line," asked WCCO-TV reporter Jason DeRusha.
"I've been a parent; I am a parent, that's the stand we need to take regardless of the choices our children make. Then we need to be there, be present for them, and be with them. That is the best way to parent," said Cohen.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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