Alcohol use in adolescents is a serious concern in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that adolescent alcohol use is more widespread than adolescent tobacco or illicit drug use. The risks of alcohol use and abuse are great, particular for young people. Approximately 41 percent of all deaths from motor vehicle accidents involve alcohol use, states the CDC. Preventing adolescent alcohol abuse requires recognizing the warning signs, learning how to discuss the issue with an adolescent and knowing how to cope with an uncooperative young person. Several informative books have been published by experts on the topic.
Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Abuse
A comprehensive text written by Nikki Babbit, Ph.D., titled "Adolescent Drug & Alcohol Abuse: How to Spot it, Stop it, and Get Help for Your Family," offers parents and family members ample real-life examples of alcohol problems. The text has been highly rated by customers of online booksellers and is recommended by the University of Michigan Health System (UMICH). Babbit offers information on the stages of alcohol abuse and dependency as well as ways to cope with denial as a family. The text is written in a friendly tone with a strong foundation in psychological behavioral theories.
A Guide for Parents of Drug and Alcohol Addicted Children
"Don't Let Your Kids Kill You: A Guide for Parents of Drug and Alcohol Addicted Children," by Charles Rubin, is a recovery guide recommended by the UMICH for parents. This guide encourages parents to prevent alcohol- or drug-abusing children from harming family dynamics and relationships. Parents are urged to help their children by helping themselves. The book borders on a "tough love" approach, advocating the expression of love to troubled adolescents while concurrently insisting that parents set firm boundaries to stop the drug and alcohol abuse.
Brief Interventions
"Adolescents, Alcohol, and Substance Abuse: Reaching Teens through Brief Interventions, by Peter M. Monti Ph.D., Suzanne M. Colby, Ph.D., Tracy A. O'Leary Ph.D.," comes highly recommended by the "Journal of Child and Family Studies" and "American Journal of Psychiatry." The text provides a well-rounded explanation of substance abuse in adolescents as well as interventions to assist caregivers of the teens. The book calls for zero tolerance of underage drinking and advocates a caring approach as well as a dose of reality for the adolescent drinker.
