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Binge Proof Your Kids ?

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Flash Forward

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By age 14, 70% of students have tried alcohol

By age 17, 90% of students consume alcohol regularly

10% of 12-year-olds and 49% of 17-year-olds drank in week prior to national survey

The harsh reality

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Alcohol contributes to 3 leading causes of death Injuries Homicide Suicide

More deaths than all illicit drugs together

Over half of all serious road injuries

Dangerous and antisocial behavioursDrink driving Violence Illicit drug use Sexual activity

The harsh reality

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How much alcohol is safe?

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National

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National

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National

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National

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National

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•Slows down messages between brain and body

•Affects concentration and coordination

Depressant

Alcohol is a drug

13Alcohol and the body

Initial effects • Feel relaxed • Reduced concentration• Slower reaction times

A few more drinks• Fewer inhibitions• More confidence• Reduced coordination• Slurred speech• Intense moods

(sad, happy, angry)

Still more drinks• Confusion• Blurred vision• Poor muscle control

More still• Nausea• Vomiting• Sleep

Even more..• Alcohol

poisoning • Possible coma• Death

Muscles• Weakness• Loss of muscle tissue

Liver• Severe swelling and pain• Hepatitis• Cirrhosis• Cancer

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Mouth, throat, lips• cancer

Heart • High blood pressure• Heart attack• Stroke

Blood• Changes in red blood

cells

Lungs• Increased risk of

infections including tuberculosis (TB)

Intestines• diarrhoea

Sex organs - Female• Irregular menstrual periods• Infertility• Damage to unborn baby

Sex organs - Male• Impotence• Shrinking of testicles• Damaged/reduced sperm

Skin• Flushing• Sweating• Bruising

Pancreas• Inflammation and pain

Nervous System• Tingling and loss of

sensation

Stomach• Inflamed lining• Bleeding• Ulcers

Alcohol and the body

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Amygdala – emotion

Nucleus Accumbens –

motivation

Cerebellum – physical

coordination

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The majority of prefrontal brain wiring takes place by age 16,

and continues to develop until about age

24-25.

It governs good judgment, complex thinking, decision

making, planning and impulse control.

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Hippocampus– Learning and

memory

The Brain“The brain goes through dynamic change during adolescence (ages 12 to 24) and alcohol can seriously damage long – and short-term – growth processes.” American Medical Association Fact Sheet, 2003)These S.P.E.C.T. images

show activity levels in the brain of a healthy non-drinker

…and that of a sober 21-year old with a 4 year history of alcohol use *The “holes” indicate areas of significantly reduced brain activity

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Drinking before age 15:Alcoholism => 5 times more likely

Major Depression => 4 times more likely

Each year delayed => 14% reduction in dependency risk

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Why do kids drink alcohol?

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Why do kids drink alcohol?

Kids need tobelong

push boundariesbe ‘grown up’

Peer pressure

Risk Taking

Cultural ‘rites’

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Parent Power

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Parent Power

Kids need to

belong

Love / Acceptance

Family MealtimesBe involved

Family Traditions

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Kids need to

push boundaries

Clear Boundaries

Great Heroes

Responsibility Do Hard Things

Parent Power

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Kids need to

be ‘grown up’

Children See/Children Do

Create & Celebrate milestonesSponge / Sieve

Parent Power

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It’s never too early to start talking about alcohol

“Discussing substance abuse is not an event; it’s a journey” Glenn Williams, Talking Smack

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It’s never too early to start talking about alcohol

?What if

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Parent Pack

RRP   $29.95 (+P&H)  

Includes Parent Manual, DVD and Instruction booklet

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