sfusd alcohol awareness december 9, 2009 ralph cantor
TRANSCRIPT
SFUSD Alcohol Awareness
December 9, 2009
Ralph Cantor
What’s the big deal about kids drinking anyways???
Demeaning behaviors Sexual behaviors Risk taking behaviors Accidents Learned behavior for partying and stress Damage to the developing brain- pre 18
Recent AMA Report on Brain Damage Risks Under 18
“The brain goes through dynamic changes during adolescence, and alcohol can seriously damage long and short term growth processes…Short-term or moderate drinking impairs learning and memory far more in youth than adults.”
Date Rape – one to two-thirds of teen sexual assaults involve alcohol
18% of Females/ 39% Males say it is acceptable for a boy to force sex if the girl is stoned or drunk
40% of children who start drinking before age 15 will become alcoholics
In television 9 out of 10 drinkers are portrayed as having no effects or only positive outcomes from their alcohol consumption
Alcohol and Teenagers:
1. Reduced sensitivity to intoxication
2. Increased sensitivity to social disinhibitions
3. Greater adverse effects to cognitive functioning
Most certainly YES
Are adolescents more susceptible to alcohol than adults?
Teenage developmental tasks
Boredom/ Developing Interests Good times Stress Social Skills Academic Skills Self Identity
Reasons for delaying message Safety Development of the prefrontal cortex Pruning and myelination Neuroadaptivity: dull pleasure center Short circuiting developmental tasks Greater need for dopamine Pharmacological solutions resulting in
pharmacological insults The research
Percentage of U.S. Adults Aged 18 and Older Dependent on Alcohol, By Age of
Drinking Onset
Prevention Factors
Supportive family (tuned in, time together, supervision, fair rules/boundaries)
Interests and exercise Youth are connected (school, activities) Social Skills Resiliency (coping with stress, celebration) A clear message – NOT NOW
Andrew Weil – Unhealthy relationshipIgnorance that the substance is a drug
and what it does to the bodyLoss of desired effect w/increasing
frequencyDifficulty separating from the drugImpairment of health or social function
Our Own Self Assessment
OPEN DISCUSSION
