According to the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, underage drinking cost the taxpayers of The United States over $60 billion a year. These costs include medical care, work loss, and pain and suffering resulting from the use of alcohol by youth. This translates to a cost of $2,094 per year for each youth in the U.S.
How Should A Parent Respond?
Begin to speak with your child before they enter stage one of chemical or drug use. Begin to look for the physical and behavioral signs listed above. Let your child know that you have a right to search their room, backpack and other areas of your home if you suspect drug use. Do not be afraid to contact your school counselor and ask for help. The school counselor may provide you with other steps to take which may include meeting with your child, speaking with your child’s teachers, school nurse and other school officials. The school counselor can not help you if you keep your suspicions or information about your child’s chemical use a secret.
- There are also numerous chemical and drug use agencies that can provide you with additional help. The school counselor can refer you to some of the best outside sources in your area.
Additional steps may include:
- Educate yourself about alcohol, club drugs and other chemicals by clicking on ScottCounseling Links.
- Stay calm while speaking to your child about your suspicions of their chemical use.
- Speak with other parents and join a support group.
- Speak with a school counselor, school nurse or the school district Drug Prevention Coordinator.
What Is A Chemical Assessment?
- The chemical assessment process is a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation that determines if an adolescent has a problem with alcohol or drug abuse dependency. This assessment may also determine other concerns such as mental health (depression etc.).
- There may be a cost involved with the assessment. Many assessment facilities will verify with your insurance company if you have benefits to cover the cost.
- If your health insurance does not cover the cost, the agency that you are contacting may refer you to a county agency that will do the assessment for free.
- The school counselor or school administrator may request an assessment, especially if there has been a school drug policy violation. Schools do not do comprehensive chemical or drug assessments.
What Do I Do If I Find Drugs in My Child’s Possession?
- Speak with your child. Stay calm. Be honest. Take turns talking.
- Your child may say it belongs to a friend. Say: “If it’s in your room or possession, it belongs to you.”
- If you do not know what the drug is , a pharmacist or a police officer may tell you what it is.
- It’s important to have your child receive a chemical assessment to evaluate the situation.
- Contact your child’s school counselor or go to: Ask a Counselor at ScottCounseling.com
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Lauren asks: What is your overall opinion on Under Age Drinking?
ScottCounseling Answer:
Great Question Lauren!
I often ask parents and teens this question: “If alcohol was created today- or just came on the market as a new product, would it become a legal drug to consume?” Many people reply, “I never thought of that. Come to think of it, it would most likely not become a legal drug, unless prescribe by a doctor, due to it’s harmful side affects on the body, the number of deaths it has/can cause and the high addiction rate that can come from its use.”
Ever year, over 20,000 individuals are killed by drunk drivers. This is more than six times the number of people people who died in the Iraq war during the past 8 years! The medical cost alone is in the hundreds of millions each year from the car crash injuries from drunk driving.
We not only need to rethink underage drinking, but the legal use of alcohol all together. We at least need to rethink the amount or percentage of alcohol that is permitted to be placed in
a container (i.e. change beer alcohol from 5.2 to 1.5).