An underage alcohol use prevention initiative for parents, caregivers, and their 9- to 13-year-old children

1
An underage alcohol use prevention initiative
for parents, caregivers, and their 9- to
13-year-old children
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Partners in Prevention

• 9- to 13-year-olds

• Parents

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Who Are 9- to 13-Year-Olds?

• 21 million in the U.S. (7 of U.S. pop.)
• Positive and optimistic about their futures
• Influenced by TV, music, the Internet
• 55 are being raised in households with annual
  incomes of at least 40,000

Ferret, 2002 Nickelodeon/Yankelovich, 2001
Rideout et al, 1999
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Diverse

• More Racial and Ethnic Diversity Than Their
  Parents

U.S. Census Bureau, 2000
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The 9- to 13-Year-Olds Are In Transition

• Their bodies are changing

• They become independent thinkers

• They develop a sense of self and independence

Pan American Health Organization, 2001 American
Psychological Association, 2002 E.W. Austin, 1995
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Minds

• Begin to understand that actions have
  consequences
• Problem-solving skills are evolving
• Begin to understand logical and causal
  relationships
• Start to take risks

Pan American Health Organization, 2001 American
Psychological Association, 2002 E.W. Austin, 1995
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New Sense of Self

• Friends are extremely important
• Nine- to thirteen-year-olds begin questioning
  adult values and rules
• They begin to establish identity and independence

Pan American Health Organization, 2001 American
Psychological Association, 2002 E.W. Austin, 1995
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The 9- to 13-Year-Olds Are In Transition

• I really want to change my appearance.

9- to 11-year-old respondents to the 2000/2001
Nickelodeon/Yankelovich Youth MONITOR Survey
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The 9- to 13-Year-Olds Are Vulnerable

• Vulnerability to alcohol initiation is heightened
  during periods of change
• Around age 10 or 11 children begin to approve of
  underage alcohol use
• More than 40 of children who use alcohol before
  age 13 abuse alcohol or become dependent later in
  life

Johnson et al, 2001 NIAAA, D.A. Dawson, 1997
NIDA, Sloboda, and David, 1997 SAMHSA/CSAP, 1999
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Use and Access to Alcohol by 9- to 13-year-olds

• Most 9- to 13-year-olds do not use alcohol
• Past year alcohol use varies by grade and type of
  alcohol

• Consumption of wine coolers ranged from 6 of
  fourth graders to 36 of eighth graders
• Consumption of beer ranged from 6 of fourth
  graders to 34 of eighth graders
• Consumption of liquor ranged from 2 of fourth
  graders to 27 of eighth graders

PRIDE 2000 PRIDE 2001-2002
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Use and Access to Alcohol by 9- to 13-year-olds
(continued)

• Youths expectations that they will use alcohol
  turn from negative to positive at age 10 or 11
• The average age of first alcohol use is 13

PRIDE 2000
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Boys vs. Girls

• Boys try alcohol as early as 11 and experience
  more alcohol-related problems than girls
• Girls try alcohol as early as 13

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Youth per Type of Household
Percent of Children 9 to 11 by Type of
Household 2000/2001 Nickelodeon/Yankelovich Youth
MONITOR

May or may not be biological parents
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Parents of 9- to 13-Year-Olds
Parents Born Between 1964-81 and Parents Born
Between 1946-64
U.S. Census Bureau, 2000
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Parents Key to Prevention

• Mothers and fathers of 9- to 13-year-olds are
  especially influential
• Waiting to talk to children until they are older
  allows peers to have more influence

ONDCP, 2001 SAMHSA/CSAP Parenting and
Strengthening Families Program, 1999 SAMHSA Fact
Sheet The role of parents in preventing and
addressing underage drinking, 1999
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Parents Are Influential But Might Not Know It

• Major influence on youth alcohol use and related
  behaviors
• Parents underestimate their childrens
  vulnerability to alcohol use

MADD, 2001 SAMHSA/CSAP Too Smart To Start, 2002
ONDCP, 2001
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What Are Parents Thinking?

• Many parents lack accurate perception about the
  harms of underage alcohol use
• Parents see underage alcohol use as more
  acceptable than using illegal drugs

MADD, 2001 SAMHSA/CSAP Too Smart To Start, 2002
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Parents Need Encouragement
They

• Believe they lack the skills to communicate with
  their children
• Perceive themselves as having little influence
  over their children
• Have, and desire, a high level of involvement
  with their children

CASA, 1999 Nickelodeon National Survey of
Parents and Kids, 2001 Mitchell, 2000
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When Parents Get Involved...
Children

• Become more responsible
• Feel more appreciated
• Readily follow parents guidance
• Respond more positively to expectations

children respond
SAMHSA/CSAP Parenting and Family Strengthening
Program, 1999
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Barriers to Success

• Family Parents are more concerned with drug use
  than with alcohol use
• Social Some parents are comfortable with alcohol
  use as a rite of passage
• Peer Perception that their peers have
  experimented with alcohol
• Community Alcohol is socially acceptable
• National Lack of funding

MADD, 2001 CASA, 1999 PRIDE, 2002 SAMHSA/CSAP,
2001
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Together Everything Fits

• 9- to 13-year-olds

• Parents/ caregivers

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The Keys to Success

• Positive attitude reinforces positive behaviors
  
• Respect 9- to 13-year-olds empowers them to
  make the right decisions
• Dialogue keeps the doors open and encourages
  mutual respect
• Establish and maintain good communication with 9-
  to 13-year-olds

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The Keys to Success (continued)

• Get involved in 9- to 13-year-olds lives
• Make clear rules and enforce them with
  consistency and appropriate consequences
• Be a positive role model
• Help 9- to 13-year-olds with the need for peer
  acceptance
• Monitor 9- to 13-year-olds activities

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An underage alcohol use prevention initiative
for parents, caregivers, and their 9- to
13-year-old children