Alcohol Awareness Month
April 2, 2018
April is alcohol awareness month. The nation-wide campaign is to reduce injuries and death related to alcohol use. Alcohol is related to traffic fatalities, violence, suicide, overdose and other problem behaviors. At times parents look at underage drinking as a “rite of passage”. Unfortunately, many of these children are the ones who get hurt or hurt someone else because underage drinking is often overlooked.
The good news is that parents can make a difference in their children’s mindset re: drinking. It has been shown that parents who have conversations with their children about the dangers of alcohol and drugs are 50% less likely to use substances than those whom have never had those conversations.
The Iowa Youth Survey is a survey that is given to children at 3 different points in their academic careers. It is first given in 6th grade, then 8th grade and lastly 11th grade. This data is compiled and used to look at risky behaviors as well as good supports for children. The Iowa Youth Survey can be broken down by county to give data that is closer to home than the national averages that are often reported on. The most recent trending data is from the 2014 Iowa Youth Survey.
The percent of students who have had 1 drink in the last 30 days in Jefferson County according to the 2014 Iowa Youth Survey.
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6th grade
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8th grade
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11th grade
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0%
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7.1%
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24.1%
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The percent of students who have had 5 or more drinks in the last 30 days in Jefferson County according to the 2014 Iowa Youth Survey.
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6th grade
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8th grade
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11th grade
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0%
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5.4%
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18.4%
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While students in 6th grade seemingly aren’t engaged in alcohol at this time, there is a definite trend upwards into 8th grade and a very steep incline in the trend from 8th to 11th grade. It is important to remember that the conversations that we have with our children make a huge impact on how they react when they come into contact with alcohol and other substances. The longer children delay drinking and drug use, the less likely they are to develop any problems with it.