Health Action Trust and the Public Health Service are working together to educate and support parents and caregivers to responsibly manage alcohol in their teenagers’ lives.
As part of their ‘The PLAN’ campaign, in collaboration with Waimea College PTA, they invited the parenting community to attend a free presentation at the college entitled ‘Keeping teens safe around alcohol’.
The event, which was aimed at parents of teens aged 12 – 17 years old, was to help educate people with tools, tips and interactive resources on how to responsibly manage teen drinking.
The major project has been three years in the making and project partner and health promoter for the Health Action Trust, Rosey Duncan, says teen drinking is a real issue and it is important to raise awareness of the topic.
“The earlier teens start drinking the more likely it is that their drinking will become problematic in the future. The more likely it is they will go on to drink harmfully in their teens and adult life. Alcohol is a drug and it is readily available.”
“Alcohol use is widespread in New Zealand, but at the same time all parents want their children to be safe.”
Rosey has been working with project partners and health promoters Hilary Genet (who works in mental health for Public Health Service, Nelson Marlborough Health) and Carol McIntosh (Alcohol, Public Health Service, Nelson Marlborough Health) and says they had a lot of help along the way with the evolution of the project, including help from parents, in developing and trialling their range of interactive resources designed to support parents to make a family plan around alcohol.
“We talked with local parents about their concerns and what would help them support their teens. The resources include our webpage, legal information, Facebook posts planned for the summer and fridge magnets.”
Parents at the Waimea College event say they felt it was important to attend to learn how to approach the subject with their teens and to learn coping strategies.
Chair of Waimea College PTA, Mel Welch, says, “the Waimea College PTA like to have the right people and resources to put forward presentations that are relevant and current to parents as well as the wider community.
“The alcohol presentation was especially important as we reach the end of the year and students like to celebrate heading into summer. The PLAN was a great opportunity to give parents hints and tips on how to help their teen be more responsible around alcohol.
“Alcohol is more available in homes than any other drug and doesn’t get the attention it deserves when it comes to teenagers and the drinking culture we have here in New Zealand.
For more information on The PLAN head to www.nmdhb.govt.nz/campaigns/the-plan-delay-teen-drinking