According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, many kids begin drinking as soon as middle school, some even sooner. The Institute claims that these kids are more likely to experience problems in school, while becoming victims of both sexual assault and violent crimes. Worse yet, they become prey to alcohol abuse later in life. This can be prevented by both parents and community members. The key is recognizing the symptoms and working together to provide a safe and promising future for these children.
Step 1
Recognize the signs. Before you can help your child, you need to recognize the signs of abuse. According to Dr. Steven Dowshen of KidsGuide.org, the most common include missing alcohol from your home, smelling alcohol on his breath or clothing, changes in his moods or behavior, disciplinary problems in school, a decline in his grades, depression, withdrawal from family and new friends he doesn't want you to meet.
Step 2
Seek diagnosis. Once you have a suspicion that your child is using or abusing alcohol, visit your doctor or pediatrician to have the problem diagnosed. According to Dr. Gary Smalley of the National Youth Network, this can be done a couple of ways.
The first is through blood and urine testing. If this is your plan, do not alert your teen to his upcoming exam; it will only give him time to find a way to pass it with flying colors.
Another option is to gather reports from parents and teachers about the child's behavior. This should include both past and present aspects of his behavioral tendencies, which should then be given to her doctor. His treatment plan will then be determined based on the tests and written reports.
Step 3
Enter detoxification. Before treatment can be administered, your teen may need to go through a detoxification program. This will generally be decided by your doctor once he has decided the severity of your teen's alcohol problem. Detoxification typically takes place in a hospital setting where your teen can be monitored while experiencing withdrawal symptoms. If they become too difficult for him to manage, the doctors and nurses on hand can help relieve his symptoms, making the process easier for him to handle.
Step 4
Begin treatment. Treatment comes in many forms and should be tailored to meet the needs of your teen. Outpatient therapy is a general term used for a whole host of treatments available. These include 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, family or individual therapy and group or individual counseling. These treatments can be used separately or in combination with one another; choosing the best type for your teen should be a group effort which includes you, your teen and your doctor. Additionally, he should be tested on a regular basis to ensure he is no longer abusing alcohol.
Step 5
Set a good example. According to Dr. Dowshen, setting a good example is vital to the success of your teen overcoming his addiction to alcohol. Although you may be of legal age to drink, appearing drunk more often than not or having a few drinks every night after work is sending the message to your teen that this is normal behavior. While you may not be addicted, think about your teen who is. His future is at stake and it is up to you, as his parent, to do everything possible to help and support him along the way.
