News Release
What Parents Need to Know about Adolescents and Alcohol

Morris IL, August 11, 2006—When teens and pre-teens drink alcohol, some adults hold the view that it is not a serious problem. At least they’re not doing drugs, some say.

What these people fail to realize is that alcohol is a drug—a drug that poses serious risks for the growing adolescent, according to Cathy Guzik, CADC, an adolescent addictions counselor with Breaking Free.

“It would surprise many people to learn just how strongly medical and behavioral health scientists have come out against the adolescent use of alcohol,” Guzik said. “Yet, that information has not reached a lot of parents.”

The beginning of the school year is an excellent time for parents to review their knowledge and policies about underage drinking and discuss them with their teen and pre-teen children, Guzik said.

“Parents need to recognize that this is a time of new friends, new schedules, and new stresses,” Guzik said. “It’s important to stay plugged into your child’s life and be there as a guiding influence. Sometimes, that means saying no to certain social activities and standing firm. Your child may be angry with you at the time, but they will eventually understand why you care so much about what they are doing.”

According to Guzik, there are a variety of reasons why youth may get involved with alcohol:
  • Their increasing independence exposes them to situations where alcohol is present
  • The developing adolescent brain has a tendency toward impulsive and risk-taking behavior
  • They expect alcohol to help them have fun and be perceived better by their peers
  • They think alcohol will help them “medicate” other problems they are having, including depression, low self-esteem, conflicts with others, etc.
  • They are children of alcoholics and/or have inherited the genetic
    tendency for alcohol addiction
    For Details, Contact:
    Paula Goodwin, NTTF Coordinator
    Phone (815) 941-3130
    E-mail: pgoodwin@grundy.k12.il.us
    Education Service Network
    1320 Union St.
    Morris, IL 60450
    Phone (815) 941-3231
    Fax (815) 942-5384
    For Release August 22, 2006
  • They have grown up in an environment where alcohol is readily available and glamorized by the social culture and the media 1.
“Everyone knows that drunk driving and car crashes are important risks of underage drinking, but the harms go far beyond that,” Guzik said. Here are some additional key reasons why parents need to be watchful for signs that their child might be using alcohol:

Alcohol is damaging to the adolescent brain. Research shows that the brain continues developing well into the twenties, during which time it establishes new communications connections and refines its capabilities. Alcohol use—especially heavy and repeated use—has been found to reduce the brain’s ability to remember and learn. Underage drinkers as a group do not do as well in school as their peers and are more likely to skip school. This has lasting implications for future success in the workplace.

The underage drinker is at greater risk for a host of other problems.

According to the American Medical Association, they are 5.5 times more likely than other youth to be arrested, 5 times more likely to commit suicide, 4.5 times more likely to get into a serious fight, 3 times more likely to be hospitalized with a mental health problem, and 1.5 times more likely to get into an accident, injure, or poison themselves. Alcohol is also a key factor in the rate of teen pregnancy and sexual disease transmission.

Alcohol is a gateway drug. Research suggests that youth who use alcohol are also more likely to use cigarettes, marijuana, and the so-called harder drugs.

Early drinking is linked to later alcohol dependence. Long-term research has documented a link between early alcohol use and later adult alcoholism.

According to the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA), a
recent study of 43,000 adults found that 47% of them met the medical criteria for
alcohol dependence before they reached the legal age of 21.
“Today’s teen drinker who binges on the weekend is setting out on a behavioral path that can lead to becoming tomorrow’s adult alcoholic with a string of drunk driving violations,” Guzik said.

It is this link to alcoholism and other drug abuse that is most troubling to Guzik, who provides counseling for substance abuse issues among Grundy County youth. Every month, she sees dozens of youth with varying degrees of problems around alcohol. As youth fall more deeply into the lifestyle around alcohol and other drugs, their problems grow more numerous and complicated.

“When a parent or other caregiver notices that a teen is getting involved with
alcohol, it is so important to take action while the problem is relatively new,”

Guzik said. “Parents should have clear rules against underage drinking, and
they should take the necessary steps to enforce those rules.”

Guzik recommends that parents of teens and pre-teens contact the Grundy County No Tolerance Task Force (NTTF) at 941-3130 and ask for a copy of “Teens, Partying & The Law.” The 20-page booklet, which can also be downloaded from the web site www.nttf.org, gives parents practical advice on legal penalties, discipline, curfews, and other issues.

In many cases, parents can nip potential alcohol problems in the bud by communicating clearly with their child, enforcing rules about alcohol, and staying well-connected in the child’s life, Guzik said.

But when problems persist, there is help available for adolescents who live in or go to school in Grundy County. High school and junior high school staff can refer students to the Breaking Free program and set up counseling sessions at the schools or at Guzik’s Morris office. Parents can also contact Guzik directly and arrange for services at their child’s school or at Guzik’s office. These services are available year-round and are funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

For more information about Breaking Free Adolescent Services in Grundy County, Contact Cathy Guzik - Breaking Free Services Coordinator (815) 260-7902, Premier Academy (815) 941-0724, or Fax: (815) 941-4934.



Cathy Guzik
1320 Union Street • Morris, IL • 60450 • phone 815-941-3130 • fax 815 942-5384 • www.nttf.org