Parents. The Anti-Drug

Bannockburn, Deerfield, Highland Park, Highwood, and Riverwoods
September 2010
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How Supervised are "Supervised" Parties
Greetings!
Parents believe that drugs and alcohol have been part of unsupervised teen parties for decades.  However, did you know that they are a part of the teen party scene, DESPITE the presence of parents?  Findings from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University show that one third of teens and nearly half of 17-year-olds attend house parties when parents are present and teens are drinking or smoking marijuana.*
 
As the new school year gets underway, and so do the parties, we urge parents to foster an ongoing discussion with their teens about the dangers of drug and alcohol use and also monitor their activities. Talking to teens about the risks and the physical harms associated with drug use is one way to help prevent them from accepting an offer to use. In addition, parents can follow up the conversation by monitoring their teen's behaviors.
Keep Teens Safe

Here are a few simple things to help keep teens drug and alcohol-free:

Ask Questions: Who is your teen hanging out with, where is the party, how often will the supervising parents check in on the teen group, and so on.

Set Rules: Establish with your teen that drug and alcohol use is unacceptable, and agree on consequences for breaking those rules.

Enforce Consequences: Did your teen come home reeking of alcohol or smelling of pot?  Enforce the punishment that you and your teen agreed upon.

And if YOU are the parent hosting the party, here are some additional guidelines:

Talk With Your Teen: Before the party gets hoppin', lay down some ground rules with your teen and role play what they need to do in case things get out of hand.

Check-In: Time gets away from teens when they are having fun, so don't rely on them to check in with you.  Be proactive and pop in on the fun - often.

Reach Out: Touch base with the parents of the teens your child has invited, and assure them that you will actually supervise the party. 

As research shows, the majority of teens say the main reason they won't use marijuana or other drugs is fear of upsetting their parents.  So be an active presence in your teen's life.  For more tips and advice, visit TheAntiDrug.com.

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Sincerely,

Parents. The Anti-Drug
 
*The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), August 2006.  National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XI: Teens and Parents.