Health officials in Iowa's Polk County Health Department are advising parents to talk to their teens about the negative impact of alcohol use in order to reduce levels of adolescent and teen substance abuse.
According to an article in the Des Moines Register, Iowa officials are particularly concerned about alcoholic beverages such as Four Loko, Joose and Tilt as products that teens are abusing more frequently in order to get drunk. These drinks contain large amounts of alcohol and caffeine, making them particularly dangerous to young bodies.
Officials told the news source that using teachable moments, such as movies and advertisement, can help initiate conversations. Furthermore, listening is an important part in knowing what is going on a child’s life.
According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 28 percent of youth between ages 12 and 20 reported consuming alcohol.
Previous studies have documented the impact that parent-child coversations, parental praise and family dinners can have on the healthy development of children, adolescents and teenagers.