Some families and cultures have holiday traditions that lean heavily on alcohol consumption. Family recipes for festive cocktails and toasts before dinners reinforce the idea that consumption is part of connecting with loved ones and embracing holiday spirit.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States notes that a quarter of the $49-billion-a-year distilled spirits industry’s profits come from the month between Thanksgiving and the New Year. Another study notes that the average American drinks 27% more during the holiday season compared to the rest of the year. 

As a result, the stress and anxiety associated with the holiday season can result in increased consumption or return to drug and alcohol use for those currently recovering. Many studies note that nearly half of individuals recovering will return to use during the holiday season.

The holiday season also presents an opportunity for teens and adolescents to venture into substance use. Some parents believe that allowing underage alcohol or substance use with supervision provides an element of safety. However, a teen’s undeveloped brain is a uniquely vulnerable environment. Research shows that allowing even a sip of alcohol for teens is related to poorer health outcomes and substance misuse later in life.

The prevalence of substances in celebrations often mixes badly with the elevated depression and stress the holidays can bring. Expectations for creating and experiencing holiday joy are at the center of potential substance use triggers. 

When mixed with emotional turmoil, financial stress, loneliness, grief, nostalgia, and dysfunctional and complex family relationships, this can create a desire to seek temporary escape from overwhelming feelings through substances.

One of the best ways for parents to protect children from developing substance use disorders is to model appropriate ways to cope with tough emotions besides turning to substances, including:

Using healthy outlets for stress and difficult emotions, such as exercise, talking with a friend, journaling, or meditation/prayer.

Communicating feelings and needs and listening to the needs of others, showing it is okay to have difficult feelings when you have a plan to manage those emotions.

Developing holiday traditions that do not involve substances, such as baking holiday cookies, watching holiday movies together, picking out a holiday tree, or driving around to enjoy holiday lights. 

Prioritizing rest, movement, nourishment, hydration, and self-care.

Making sure your children know where you stand on underage drinking and that they can always call you if they need to be picked up from a situation where others are drinking.  

During the holidays, the risk of substance use affects not only young people but also adults. In fact, substance use issues often ripple through the entire family, with parents and caregivers playing a critical role in modeling healthy coping mechanisms. Families affected by substance use disorder may face unique challenges during the holidays, as children of parents with substance use disorders are statistically more likely to develop these issues themselves.

For adults seeking support, Healthcare Network’s Primary Care Addiction Treatment program follows a supportive, compassionate, and nonjudgmental approach to encourage healing and lessen negative effects. The program treats every patient with respect and dignity, using empathetic language to reduce stigma and foster a supportive environment.

Healthcare Network offers medication for addiction treatment for opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and other substances within a primary care setting. Comprehensive care includes medication treatment along with behavioral therapy and counseling services to provide a whole-care approach to treating substance use disorders and support recovery.

In addition, our primary care programs for the whole family include integrated mental and behavioral health care to address some of the mental health challenges that are sometimes at the root of substance use disorders.

Help is available through the holidays and beyond. Supportive treatment can be the gift of a lifetime for you and your loved ones.

Phara Lafortune-Morame is associate clinical director of behavioral health at Healthcare Network. To learn more about substance use and behavioral and mental health support available at Healthcare Network, visit healthcareswfl.org or call 239-658-3000.

The post Stop Holiday Drinking from Becoming a Problem appeared first on SWFL Family.

Why aren’t they sleeping through the night?

Why is their poop changing colors?

And the question I asked the most often was

Why are they always crying?

Now that my twins are teens, in many ways I feel like a new mom again since raising teens is such a perplexing and confusing experience. Their behaviors are often hard for me to figure out. Like, why do they always feel the need to close the door? or why do they want to spend every waking moment with their friends?

My initial reaction when I’m feeling bewildered (which is often) is to grab my phone and Google it. And then I wonder, how did my mother raise me without an Internet connection?

Fortunately, parents do have the ability to easily find answers to their questions which will hopefully make parenting a teenager a little less daunting. As a former counselor for adolescents in a residential facility, I can answer some common questions asked by parents of teens and also provide links to articles for more information. Here are the top eight questions most Googled by parents of teenagers.

1. Why do teens do drugs?

During my time working with teens, there was a myriad of reasons why they choose to use drugs. It ranged from peer pressure to mental health issues (a form of self-medication).  Here is an article related to why some teens use drugs:

Suffering From Teen Drug Use: Why Do Teenagers Use Drugs?

https://yourteenmag.com/health/drugs-alcohol/ask-the-parenting-expert-the-whys-of-teen-drug-abuse

If you are concerned your teen is using drugs or alcohol this article discusses signs to look for and options to get treatment:

Signs of Alcohol Abuse and Drug Use in Teens: What To Look For

https://yourteenmag.com/health/drugs-alcohol/teenage-drug-alcohol-use

The best way to help prevent your teen from using drugs is to have open communication with them about drugs and how they are feeling in all areas of their life (friends, school, sports, etc.). Here is an article related to the importance of communication in preventing drug use:

Teen Risk-Taking: What Should Parents Worry About?

https://yourteenmag.com/health/drugs-alcohol/teen-risk-taking

2. Why do teens cut themselves?

Cutting yourself is a form of self-injury. When I worked in the residential treatment center, often teens cut themselves as a way to deal with their depression or other negative emotions. If you notice your teen is cutting themselves it is important to seek the help of a mental health professional so your teen can learn more appropriate coping mechanism for dealing with their emotions. Here are some related articles:

Teen Self Harm: How Can You Help A Teenager Who Injures Herself?

https://yourteenmag.com/health/teenager-mental-health/teen-self-harm

Dealing with Self-Injury: Understanding Risk And Helping Prevention

https://yourteenmag.com/health/teenager-mental-health/self-injury-professional-advice

Teenagers And Cutting: I Was A Teenage Cutter. How I Stopped Cutting

https://yourteenmag.com/health/teenager-mental-health/cutting

3. Why do teens drink?

Similar to using drugs, teens often drink alcohol because of peer pressure or as a form of self-medication. Alcohol is also more accessible and acceptable to use than illegal drugs. Some of the teens I worked with had parents or who either used or abused alcohol, making it easy for them to obtain it. Here some related articles:

The Age-Old Question: Why Do Teenagers Drink Alcohol?

https://yourteenmag.com/health/drugs-alcohol/underage-drinking

Can You Prevent Underage Drinking? Realistic Ways to Talk About Alcohol

https://yourteenmag.com/health/drugs-alcohol/real-talk-about-underage-drinking

Officer Pat Shares Facts About Teenage Drug And Alcohol Use

https://yourteenmag.com/health/drugs-alcohol/officer-george-willis-why-teens-use-drugs-and-alcohol

4. Why do teens smoke?

Despite laws regulating smoking in select public areas and the increased price of cigarettes, teens still smoke cigarettes. In over fifty percent of the US states the law regarding the age to purchase tobacco is 18 which makes it more accessible than alcohol. The most common reason teens begin smoking is that their friends or parents smoke. Once they start, smoking is highly addictive. Here some related articles:

Teens Using Tobacco: Dip, Cigarettes, Hookahs and More

https://yourteenmag.com/health/drugs-alcohol/using-tobacco-vaping-chewing-smoking

How Many Teenagers Smoke: Is Teen Smoking Still Popular?

https://yourteenmag.com/health/drugs-alcohol/teens-and-cigarettes

There’s No Foolproof Way of Raising Teens: Warning Signs of Trouble

https://yourteenmag.com/health/drugs-alcohol/teens-making-bad-choices

5. Why do teens vape?

Vaping is smoking using an e-cigarette. Even though the user does not inhale tobacco, they are still inhaling a vapor containing nicotine. Currently, there are not any state laws requiring proof of age to purchase e-cigarettes which means it is easily attainable for teens. Since e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, teens believe it is a healthy option than a cigarette. Here some related articles:

Teenagers Are Smoking E-Cigarettes: Should We Worry About Vaping?

https://yourteenmag.com/health/drugs-alcohol/ecigarettes-teens

Is Vaporizing Safer Than Smoking? Why Vaping Isn’t Healthy For Teens

https://yourteenmag.com/health/physical-health/is-vaporizing-safer-than-smoking

What is Juuling? The New Teen Vaping Device You May Not Recognize

https://yourteenmag.com/health/physical-health/what-is-juuling

6. Why do teens need more sleep?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that teens sleep for 8-10 hours per night. Sleep is necessary to aid in physical, intellectual and emotional growth. But a teen’s busy schedules including sports, homework and spending time with friends often means a later bedtime combined with an early start time (my kids are on the bus at 6:40 am). The end result is not getting enough sleep. Here some related articles:

How Much Sleep Do Teens Need? More Than They’re Getting

https://yourteenmag.com/health/physical-health/how-much-sleep-do-teens-need

Teens Not Getting Enough Sleep? Practical Sleep Advice for Parents

https://yourteenmag.com/health/physical-health/teens-sleep

Sleeping Teens: Helping Your Teen Get A Better Night’s Sleep

https://yourteenmag.com/health/physical-health/teen-sleep

7. Why do teens get acne?

The exact cause of acne is unknown but hormones, stress and genetic do contribute to developing it. Since teens experience an increase in hormones this may be why they develop it more than adults do. The best treatment for acne is using facial cleanser and if necessary seeing a dermatologist. Here some related articles:

Dealing with Acne: There’s No Need to Suffer Through Life with Pimples

https://yourteenmag.com/health/physical-health/teens-with-acne

Teenage Skin Problems: Acne, Skincare, and Sunscreen

https://yourteenmag.com/health/physical-health/ask-doctor-acne-skincare-sunscreen

From Acne Myths to Causes: Acne Advice From Pediatric Dermatologists

https://yourteenmag.com/health/physical-health/acne-advice-from-dermatologists

8. Why do teens die by suicide?

Suicide is a complex issue. Teens may commit suicide because they feel hopeless or pain due to depression. There are some incidents when teens felt bullied or experienced abuse that led to suicide. If you think your teen is having suicidal thoughts contact a mental health professional or call or text the National Suicide & Crisis Hotline by dialing 988. Here some related articles:

What Parents Need to Know About Preventing Teen Suicide

https://yourteenmag.com/health/teenager-mental-health/teen-suicide-prevention

Discussing Teen Suicide and Prevention: What Do Our Teens Think?

https://yourteenmag.com/health/teenager-mental-health/teen-suicide-and-prevention

About Teen Depression: What To Look For and How To Discuss Suicide

https://yourteenmag.com/health/teenager-mental-health/teen-suicide-prevention-professional-advice

This article was originally published on Your Teen.

Local Resources in Southwest Florida:

David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health

SalusCare Behavioral Health

Avow Kids (ages 5-17)

Covenant Counseling

Healthcare Network of SWFL

Al-Anon/Alateen

Mobile Crisis Response Team

Southwest Florida Resource Link by Healthcare Planning Council of SWFL

Youth Haven

Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in Parents Magazine, Upworthy, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings and Twins Magazine. You can find her at Twitter @CherylMaguire05

The post What Keeps You Up at Night? The Top Eight Question Parents Of Teens Google Most appeared first on SWFL Family.