Counseling Cuts Down Youth Drinking

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  Counseling Cuts Down Youth Drinking Marc Straus | CWK Network
 
 
  “If it comes from me, I’m the objective observer. I’m interested in the child, and I try to let them know that. I want what’s best for them, but yet it’s not Mom or Dad saying that.”

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Dr. Rhonda Jeffries, pediatrician

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  Related Information What Parents Need To Know Resources

It’s a troubling fact of life: some kids drink.

“Especially the older they get,” says Dr. Rhonda Jeffries, a pediatrician. “And by senior year, 50 percent or more of kids are drinking. And in fact, by 12 th grade, usually 80 percent of the kids have tried alcohol.”

But can a doctor persuade kids not to drink? Kids seem to think so.

“I think coming from somebody besides, maybe, just the parents for some people it will help,” says 18-year-old Andrew Scott, a high school senior.

Lars Thrasher, 17, agrees. “I would think it would be more helpful from a doctor,” he says.

And Christine Terrell, calls doctors advice on drinking and other potentially touchy subjects “extremely beneficial.”

According to a new study published in the Annals of Family Medicine, when a doctor spends just a few minutes talking to kids about the dangers of alcohol, those kids are 50 percent less likely to drink.

Dr. Jeffries says: “If it comes from me, I’m the objective observer. I’m interested in the child, and I try to let them know that. I want what’s best for them, but yet it’s not Mom or Dad saying that .”

The study reports when kids talked with their doctor, they had 55 percent fewer traffic accidents, 42 percent less emergency room visits a nd fewer arrests for underage drinking. It seems that when doctors warn kids about alcohol, they listen.

Christine Terrell explains: “They’re not invested in you as their child. They’re invested in you for your health, for your interests, for your sake. And I would definitely listen to a doctor, and I have listened to doctors who have talked to me about subjects like that.”

The study suggests it’s a good idea to ask your doctor to talk with your children about alcohol. Of course, experts add, parents should bring up the subject as well. “They need to be open to discussion and to bringing these issues up with their kids,” says Dr. Jeffries. “ And I think that parents who are in touch with their kids and connected to them are really helpful in getting their children though adolescence without negative effects.”

LaShauna Pellman, 17, sums it up best. “If my parents tell me something,” she says, “then I listen to them even more.”
By Amye Walters
CWK Network, Inc.

Alcohol-related fatalities are a leading cause of death among young adults in the United States. In the United States, 70.8 percent of all deaths among persons aged 10 to 24 result from only four causes – motor-vehicle crashes, other unintentional injuries, homicide and suicide.

Should your family doctor take just a few moments to counsel your child about the risks of alcohol, there is great potential for positive outcome. Just a few minutes of a doctor’s counseling helped young adults reduce their high-risk drinking and the number of traffic crashes, emergency room visits, and arrests for substance or liquor violations, says a study in the Annals of Family Medicine. Consider the following:

  • Underage drinking causes over $53 billion in criminal, social and health problems.
  • Alcohol is a leading factor in the three leading causes of death for 15- to 24-year-olds: automobile crashes, homicide and suicide.

Primary-care doctors should make it a priority to counsel young adults about high-risk drinking. Young adults, ages 18 to 30, who received counseling about reducing their use of alcohol:

  • Experienced a 40 to 50 percent decrease in alcohol use.
  • Reported 42 percent fewer visits to the emergency room.
  • Were involved in 55 percent fewer motor vehicle crashes.
 
By Amye Walters
CWK Network, Inc.

The ways a parent can influence his or her teen’s drinking habits is complex. A universal method regarding what works best in preventing underage drinking may not exist. A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that a parent’s attitude toward drinking influences a child’s behavior in various ways. Researchers found that teens who drank with their parents were less likely than others to have binged or used alcohol at all in recent weeks.

The study also found that strict parenting can curb kids’ drinking. Teens who said they feared they would have their privileges taken away if they got caught drinking were half as likely to drink as those who thought their parents would not punish them. In addition, consider the following:

  • The average girl takes her first sip of alcohol at age 13. The average boy takes his first sip of alcohol at age 11.
  • Teenagers who said their parents or their friends’ parents had provided alcohol for a party over the past year were twice as likely as their peers to have used alcohol or binged during the previous month.
  • Nearly 75 percent of teens surveyed said they had never used alcohol.
  • About 25 percent of teens in the study said they’d been at party in the past year where parents supplied alcohol.
  • Fourteen percent of teens surveyed said they were with their parents the last time they drank.
 

The Centers for Disease Control
Focus Adolescent Services
Health Day
National Youth Violence Prevention Center
Reuters
 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Foreign Language Cuts

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Education Feature

Foreign Language Cuts

By Karen Savage
CWK Producer
 
“Many states are in a budget crisis. So they are either shrinking of cutting out programs,”
-Patty Smitherman, Foreign Language Advocates-

13-year old Vaishali and her younger brother Avinash have traveled the world with their parents.

Their travels have sparked an interest for both children in learning Spanish.

Vaishali reasons, “You can do so many things that you couldn’t do if you could speak just one language.”

Foreign language advocates agree.

“In addition, to helping them learn better and broadening their perspective, there’s a very pragmatic side, you can get a job more easily if you’re bilingual and that’s true in almost every area of employment,” says Patty Smitherman, director of advocacy for the the Foreign Language Association of Georgia.

However, in many schools, foreign language classes are being scaled back and in some instances even eliminated.

“[There have been] many cuts because many states are in a budget crisis. And so they are either shrinking the programs, for instance in high school, not offering four years but two or three or cutting out elementary programs or crunching two years of middle school into one.”

Experts say if your child’s school is facing cuts, first ask questions.

“Don’t just accept the, ‘No,’ advises Smitherman. Inform yourself. ‘What are the real reasons for the cuts? Are they substituting something else?'”

Then, she says, get active. Form language clubs, get tapes and video, hire a tutor, or enroll your children in a private language school.

Avinash believes knowing Spanish will add value to his life.

He says, “So the probability will go up for me getting a career, and go up for me getting another Spanish friend.”

 
Related
Information

The importance of learning a second language in high school is under debate as pressure rises for states to eliminate diploma systems that make it a requirement. Advocates of the policy say dropping the requirement would have little impact as those college-bound students would still take the courses in order to meet college requirements. Critics believe making the courses electives will eventually lead to elimination of some language programs. A national survey was conducted to determine how many students in elementary and secondary schools actually received second language instruction. The survey, conducted by the Center for Applied Linguistics, found that:

  • More than four million U.S. elementary school students were enrolled in second language classes.
  • At the junior/middle school level, about three million students were studying second languages and more than seven million high school students were studying an additional language.
  • Spanish and French continue to be the most common languages of instruction.
 

Should all students be required to take a second language? What are the real benefits? Some experts believe when students learn an additional language they are able to better process information in other subjects. Studies have shown that students who take at least three years of a second language in high school score higher on the verbal section of the SATs. The French Embassy how second languages can help in the following areas:

  • The economy – In many countries, a second language is introduced in primary school and a third language in middle school. International job applicants proficient in at least two languages will be at a distinct advantage in the global market. Understanding other languages can help people succeed in business.

  • Job opportunities – Knowledge of a second language is essential in many occupations. For example, Canada, which is officially bilingual, is one of the United States’ most important trading partners and requires labeling in English and French on all imported products. Knowing a second language can also help students land jobs with import-export companies, international businesses and even airlines. If your child is considering a job in politics, or even teaching, languages are extremely important.

  • Understanding other cultures – When students learn additional languages, they can communicate easily with other cultures, understanding the way they live.

  • Improve your English – Learning a second language can help students understand their own language better. It can enhance grammar skills and improve scores on standardized tests.

  • Become critical and creative – Learning a second language also increases a students problem-solving skills and can improve their memory, self-discipline and self-esteem. Because progress is very easy to measure, they can quickly take pride in their new abilities.

Learning a second language can be very difficult. If your child feels studying a second language is important, offer these study tips provided by the University of Texas:

  • Study every day. A second language course is different from any other course you take. Language learning is cumulative: students cannot put it off until the weekend. They should study one or two hours for every class hour if they want an A or B.
  • Study time. Study in 15- to 30-minute periods throughout the day. Focus on a different task each time: vocabulary, grammar, etc. Get an overview during the first half hour: spend ten minutes reviewing dialog, ten minutes learning new vocabulary, ten minutes learning new grammar. Approximately 80 percent of study time should be spent in recitation or practice, including practice in the language lab.
  • Encourage attendance and participate in class. Students should attend class even if they are not well prepared. Class time is their primary opportunity for practice. They should learn the grammar and vocabulary outside of class to make the most of class time. It is also a good idea to spend a few minutes “warming up” before each class by speaking or reading the language.
  • Make sure they are comfortable in class. Encourage students to know their classmates so they will feel they are among friends. They should visit their instructor during office hours to get acquainted, explaining their goals and apprehensions about the course.
  • Practice for tests. Students should study what they will have to do on the test. If the test will require them to write, then help them study by writing – including spelling and accents. If they will be asked to listen, encourage listening practice. Encourage them to ask for practice questions or to make up their own test questions.
  • Encourage a good attitude. Have your child set personal goals for learning. Tell them to leave perfectionism at the door and that it is alright to make mistakes. Make sure they learn from their mistakes.
  • Make sure they get help if they need it. Tell them to talk with their teacher. Encourage study groups among class members. Hire a tutor for them if needed.

If you believe learning a second language is important and your child’s school does not offer the option, or is thinking about eliminating the program, there are some steps you can take:

  • Speak to the school principal. Discuss your interest in the program.
  • Join with other parents who share the same interest as you.
  • Discuss the possibility of a program, or your concerns for the program, at a PTA meeting.
  • Write to the teachers, the school board, and the school district headquarters.

 

Center for Applied Linguistics

French Embassy for the United States
Kids Source
University of Texas