Video:How to Talk to Your Teen About Alcohol

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Transcript:How to Talk to Your Teen About Alcohol

Hi, my name is Patricia O'Laughlin and I'm a Marriage and Family Therapist with TherapyForParents.com. Today I'm here to talk to you on behalf of About.com on how to talk to your teen about alcohol.

Tips for How to Talk to Your Teen About Alcohol

The first thing is it's very important that you tell your teen that people don't choose to be alcoholics. Addiction creeps upon people unexpectedly. Nobody chooses that kind of lifestyle.

The second thing is there are strong environmental and genetic factors that contribute to alcoholism. These things are often out of our control. A teen might think that they can control their alcohol use but often times predisposition means that they can develop a problem.

The third thing is that even though alcohol is legal, it's not legal for teens. Because of this, there are consequences to teens using alcohol besides physiological ones. DWIs, going to jail for obtaining alcohol illegally, are some of these consequences. Your teen will need to be reminded of this. Often times teens forget that there are consequences.

The fourth thing is don't tell your teen that alcohol is more dangerous than it is. Your teenager has seen people drinking alcohol. If you say that it's really dangerous and can be fatal, your teenager won't trust you and won't trust what you are saying. Instead, reinforce the legal consequences of alcohol as well as the emotional consequences. People don't make good decisions when they are intoxicated.

And the fifth thing is talk to your teen about why using alcohol as a teenager could be more serious than as an adult. Teenagers are going through their final stage of brain development change. Alcohol really impacts this. Alcohol has been linked to creating depression in teenagers. Your teen should know these consequences. I know talking to your teen about alcohol can be difficult. Try to role model responsible drinking for your teenager.

Notes About How to Talk to Your Teen About Alcohol

If you think your teenager might have a problem, talk to a professional and get your teenager the help that they need. Thank you so much for watching. For more information, visit us on the web at About.com.