Among other things, spring is prom season. On prom night, parents may worry about their children's safety when it comes to alcohol. David Barloon, ARNP, advanced registered nurse practitioner in the chemical dependency unit at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, talks about alcohol and drug use among adolescents today:
We know that hundreds of U.S. kids are killed every year as a consequence of drinking and driving on prom night. What would/should parents and students themselves do to ensure a safe, sober night?
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. During April, May, and June more adolescents are involved with accidents, especially involving alcohol. This is an important topic and an important time of year to be talking about it.
Parents should talk with their children regarding the issues of alcohol. Don't wait until the night of the prom or the day of graduation. Talk about this important topic beforehand so there's a clear understanding about the effects of alcohol and the problems it can cause. Children need to have a clear plan, especially on the day of graduation or the day of the prom, so if problems arise they know:
- How to contact parents
- Have an alternative plan
- Stand up if things get out of control (someone pulls out drugs and alcohol)
- Get out of the car if the driver is driving recklessly or driving while drinking
It's important for parents to know where their children will be during the night of the prom and that the children know that they can always call their parents—that's important.
The bottom line is to have the talk with the adolescent before the day of the prom. Make sure there are clear rules and a clear understanding that alcohol is not something to be tolerated. Tell them that as long as they're under 21, they shouldn't be drinking at all. It needs to be clear what to expect from them the night of the prom.
For some kids dealing with alcohol is more than an occasional issue. Is underage drinking on the rise?
That's a good question. It's hard to answer. Students are being taught more about drinking and the dangers of binge drinking, so I think students are aware of what that is and to be careful. But, there's still that attitude out there that it won't happen to me, I'm in control, I can handle this.
And people still binge drink, so it's a problem that should be addressed before students go out and party and go out to proms and go out to graduations or spring break. I don't know if it's on the rise or not. Some communities, some places, there's more drinking then not, but the important thing is that you make clear decisions for yourself.
How easy is it to become addicted to alcohol?
It's not hard. If there's alcoholism in the family, and we know it is a family disease, some people are more prone to the disease. Once they start drinking, it's more difficult for them to stop. They respond to it differently.
But there's also the culture of drinking. For some people, it is part of the group they're with. Alcohol is how they socialize, how they have fun, and after a while it just becomes part of their routine.
Sometimes people turn to alcohol as a way to cope with problems and if that pattern develops, it becomes entrenched, and becomes difficult to get out of. If someone has a biological history of alcoholism or a learned pattern of drinking, addiction can occur very easily.
What are some of the signs/symptoms that a person is addicted?
I think you start to see changes in their personality and in their behavior. For students, grades might start slipping, they miss getting their homework done, their sleeping patterns change (even though they're sleeping, they're tired all of the time), they don't take care of personal hygiene, their moods change, (becoming more argumentative, irritable, isolated).
It is common for parents to say, "You know my son or daughter—they're different than they used to be. Their peer group is different and I know something is not right." They may not necessarily catch them using drugs or alcohol, but they know something is different and it's not good. Things are starting to fall apart. It's important to ask—not be afraid to ask—their son or daughter what's up and confront the issue of drugs and alcohol.
What treatment is available for kids?
In Iowa City, The University of Iowa is licensed as an adult program, so we treat persons 18 and up. In Iowa City MECCA is a program that offers a full range of services for adolescents as well as adults, so there's certainly good treatment available here in Johnson County.
Why is it important for parents or other relatives to intervene if they suspect alcohol abuse?
Like anything, it's good to catch a problem at an early stage. Certainly people who are alcohol dependent—an alcoholic—started out as abusing alcohol. Again, it started to become part of their pattern, part of their behavior, part of their routine, and it escalated and it started affecting them socially, legally, and financially. It starts affecting their health, and it can be dangerous as far as accidents and such.
So with any problem like addiction—alcoholism—you want to catch it early and treat it. It's more treatable and manageable at an early stage. So, again, do not be afraid to ask that question. It's a prevalent problem and all students have had some contact with this, so they know that it's a problem or could be a problem. I think they appreciate sometimes when an adult or a parent intervenes.
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