Mental health
Many teens can also, as a result of their binge drinking, go on to develop mental health issues such as stress, agitation and irritability after a binge period, says Dr. Cirone. "There are mental health and stress issues that precede alcohol use and some that progress out of alcohol use." There is a 30 to 40 per cent correlation between alcohol use and mental health disorders in the adolescent population, adds Dr. Cirone.
With the knowledge that binge drinking is a fact of life among adolescents, whether they try it only once or every Friday and Saturday night, Dr. Cirone suggests the most important thing that parents can do is discuss safety and behavioural harm reduction methods with their children.
Safety tips:
• Ensure teens don't drive after drinking alcohol.
• Ensure teens don't get into a car that is driven by someone who has been drinking.
• Arrange for alternate transportation to get home in the first place, such as cab fare or to be picked up by a parent.
• Set a curfew for your teen and try to be awake to see when he/she gets in.
• Suggest that your teen have a buddy system, especially when living on campus while attending university or college.
Behavioural tips:
• Talk to your son or daughter about the consequences of getting into a fistfight or verbal altercation, or worse, someone pulling a gun or knife.
• Talk to your daughters about how alcohol can impair their judgment and affect their impulsivity, especially where sexual encounters are concerned. It is common for girls to find themselves in compromising situations that can result in rape and unintentional pregnancy.
• Parents should role model a healthy use of alcohol.
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