1 of 8

Write now Article Tools

Page 4 of 5

incident. Usually the speaker is a friend of someone killed by a drunk driver, or a person that killed someone while driving drunk.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is another organization that is community based. They have members throughout many communities that speak publicly and invite everyone to listen. Usually they speak at churches or in front of the City Hall like they do in Burlington, or at public functions all over Vermont. Unfortunately, MADD usually doesn't hold an anytime speech, they usually only speak when someone has been injured or killed by drinking and driving in a community.

Teen Safe Rides is community based ride share program that helps teens get home safely after they have been drinking. This program is targeted to help teens that may be to afraid to call home and ask for a ride. They have networks all across the United States.
Alcoholics Anonymous is set-up for adults with alcohol problems, and adolescents have been successful with the program, but more have failed using the AA program. AA is only as successful as the people that use the program and support system within the program. AA holds many non-alcoholic functions intended to make people realize they can still have fun without drinking alcohol. People use these functions to meet other people with similar problems and make new friends; therefore their support system grows (Alcoholics Anonymous).
Parents should be certain their child really has a problem before having them admitted into a treatment center. A child that is not an alcoholic may believe they are and fail any attempt to rehabilitate. They may see themselves as a failure and not try to overcome the problem. This lowers a child's self-esteem, and makes it harder for them to accomplish goals.
Parents should be supportive and attend an informative meeting with the treatment center and ask questions about the treatment plan for their patients. Parents will know what treatment center they will want their child to attend by being more informed and shopping around for the best possible option. Parents should involve the teen in the decision, and allow the teen to have a hand in their choice. It will be easier for a teen to rehabilitate if they want to attend the treatment center.
Alcoholism can damage a young person's health, mind, and life. With proper prevention and parental guidance, adolescents can live a healthy lifestyle and mature into fully-developed, well-adjusted adults. Even if the adolescent has experimented with

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about The perils of teenage drinking?
We want to hear your view. Write now!