Adolescent Drunk Driving
by Shannon K. Spellman, M.S.W.
In a 30 day period in 2005, 28.5% of high school students nationwide reported having ridden in a vehicle with someone who had been drinking. And 28% of the fatal automobile crashes involving teen drivers were alcohol related. Statistics show 75% of high school students have consumed alcohol by the time they graduate. [1] Talking openly with your teen about the risks of alcohol use and the realities of drinking and driving are essential for every parent of an adolescent.
Teenagers need to have skills in assertiveness to avoid riding with someone who has been drinking as well as friends who will take their car keys away from them if they become too intoxicated to make a wise decision. Refusal skills are something that parents can role play with their teens and their teen's peers whenever possible. This is an issue that needs to be reinforced on a regular basis as adolescents have a faulty conclusion that they are somehow immune to the laws and statistics that apply to the rest of the world and they are not likely to recall the memory of a one time educational experience in the moment that they may need it. They are also not likely to be scared into avoiding the potential dangers, but helping them to process feelings if an alcohol tragedy does occur with one of their friends or someone else the family knows, can be very helpful.
Before you give them car keys, give them a test on the drunk driving laws in your state. Then, set rules about drinking that have consequences tied to driving privileges. Many parents find that having a written commitment about this issue is helpful. There is a wonderful pre-written contract available for immediate download written and produced by Students Against Destructive Decisions, (SADD) formerly known as Students Against Driving Drunk. The contract basically says that if they find themselves in a situation where their safety is threatened, that they agree to call their parent and the parent agrees to provide safe and sober transportation home and wait to talk about it until the next day. These contracts save lives. Sign one with your adolescent today!
______________________
References
1. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) [Online] Accessed 12-05-07. Contract for life and organization links provided with permission from SADD, Inc.(http://www.sadd.org)
©2007-2008. Hiding Star Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.
________________
Products for Parents
The following link will take you to various products offered by other publishers that may be helpful for parents of adolescents.