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If you have questions about helping young people make better decisions or if you are worried about a young person, please contact the high school Prevention Coordinator at Dear Sarah or their guidance counselor at 207-985-1110 ext. 216.
Tip of the Week
Limit Access
Good: If you have alcohol in your home, keep track of it -- know what and how much you have, and keep it where it is not accessible to teens.
Better: Thank store clerks when you see them card someone who is buying alcohol.
Best: Alert the police if you have information about where/how teens are getting alcohol in your community.
Tip provided by www.MaineParents.net.
Be Up & Be Ready
Good: Wait up, or set the alarm for curfew time – talk with your teen about their night.
Better: When your teen arrives home, look for signs of use. Teens who believe their parents will catch them are less likely to drink.
Best: Be prepared in advance for what you would do the FIRST time you discover that your teen has been drinking. Think ahead of time about how you want to react, who you would talk to, and how you would enforce the consequences.
Reinforce and Enforce
Good: Reinforce the rules and consequences of underage drinking before your teen goes out.
Better: Frequently explain the reasons behind the rules so your teen understands the rules are a protective measure, not just a restriction on their freedom.
Best: Enforce your rules consistently. Don’t look the other way if your teen violates the rules – they need to know that you are serious about the rules and that you will hold them accountable for violating them.
Tip provided by www.MaineParents.net.
www.maineparents.net Find more information and other tips likes this one
www.drugabuse.gov More education and prevention resources.
Updated 11.09.2009