Demystifying the Teen Partying Scene

A Community of Care Presentation from The York School

Adolescent Beliefs

1. Everything is negotiable.

2. Nothing should be difficult, boring, uninteresting, or unpleasant.

3. Adults are just the same as kids, only not as smart.

4. If I don’t get what I want, it is unfair and the end of the world is in sight.

5. I have a short attention span and a low tolerance for pain - it is your job to make everything quick and painless.

Insights into Adolescence that can make your life easier….

1.Embarrassment

2.Choices

3.It’s all new.

4. They have to do things they don’t like

What Do They Need from Us?

1. Adult Behavior

2. Daily Acknowledgement

3. Boundaries and Limits

4. Value and Responsibility

5. Social Coaching

6. Empathy and Respect

7. An Ethical Compass

Substance Use Review

It’s a Fact!

DOOM

GLOOM

…And HOPE

Facts:

Between ‘94-’00:

• Drug use up 33%• Use of hallucinogens up 54%• Use of cocaine up166%• Use of marijuana up 37%

Facts:

• Hospital emergency room visits up• Main drugs = alcohol, marijuana, ‘ecstasy’,

cocaine. • Marijuana today is far more potent than

marijuana 25 years ago.

Parent Attitudes

65% of parents believe

&

40% of parents think

Parent AttitudesNational Center On Addiction and Substance Abuse

94% of parents say…

64% of teens say …..

Drug Use Among Ontario Students 1977–2005 CAMH

Research

Past Year Drug Use

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

G7 G8 G9 G10 G11 G12

Grade

% w

ho

use Alcohol

Cannabis

Binge Drinking

Teen Attitudes and Perceptions

Perceptions of Risk, Harm and Disapproval• regular marijuana use (53%)• daily drinking (32%)• daily smoking (28%)

Drug Availability(“easy” or “very easy” to get the drug) was highest for • Cigarettes(57%)• alcohol (57%)• cannabis (46%)

SUMMARYSome Encouraging Findings

There are many findings in this report that should be viewed as encouraging..

Cigarettes: The majority of students do not smoke

Alcohol: The drinking prevalence among all students has declined

Binge drinking is also lower

• More students in 2005 report being drug-free

• Alcohol and cannabis use declined among 7thgraders

• Use of LSD also continued on the downward trend

• The use of other illicit drugs also declined in 2005

• Drinking and Driving among licensed students

1. Changes in personality.

2. Decline in grades and interests.

3. Changing friends.

4. Breaking the normal household rules.

5. The disappearance of valuable possessions.

6. Vague physical complaints.

7. Disappearance of your liquor supply

8. Obvious signs of drug use

9. Physical signs.

10. Legal problems

Ten Tips to Detect Alcohol/Drug Use in Your Adolescent

Demystifying the Teen Partying Scene

Part II

A Community of Care Presentation from The York School

Media Reports

Vs.

Research

Self-Esteem

Assertiveness

Peer Pressure

By Grade 7:

• 33% of males• 23% of females

Report touching below the waist

Experienced sexual intercourse at least once

• Boys in Grade 9 23%• Boys in Grade 11 40%

• Girls in Grade 9 19%• Girls in Grade 11 46%

First act of sexual intercourse at 16.5 yr old

Reasons for having sexual intercourse the first time.

Love

Curiosity/Experimentation

Carried away

To lose virginity

The Issues

• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s)

Condom use

Serial monogamy

The Issues

• Oral Sex

SES and race strongly associated

Timing in relationship

Risk of STI

Oral sex is not “sex”

Reciprocity

Female empowerment vs. exploitation

Experience of oral sex at least once.

• Boys in Grade 9 32%• Boys in Grade 11 53%

• Girls in Grade 9 28%• Girls in Grade 11 52%

The Issues

• Technology

Sexting

The Issues

• Sexual Abuse

Gr 11 females:

17% pressured to have sex

The Issues

• Age of Consent Law in Canada

Changed May 1, 2008

The Issues

• Emergency Contraception

Talking about sex with teens:

• Make discussion IMpersonal• Avoid advising• Accept that silence is ok• Find a surrogate• Talk before it’s an emergency• When the child’s health & safety is on the line,

force the talk.

Q and A

Questions from parents that we will answer:

• Is there anything parents do once the child is off to university & no longer lives at home?

• Friends with older kids have insisted weekly calls from their university kids, basically to check-in, with limited success. How useful is that & some have threatened loss of allowance with non-compliance.

• How is the teen scene supervised within the school?

• How accessible and what are the avenues of access of drugs and alcohol?

• What are the precursor signs of teens getting involved in sex, drugs and alcohol?

• What is the best strategy to best position my teen such that he will not get involved in sex, drugs and alcohol?

Questions for The Community of Care to Answer:• What is a good curfew time for 15 or 16 year olds?

• Address the balance between tolerance and serious risk.

 • Teens seem to drink large quantities of alcohol (e.g. 6 or more beer, many shots) and

think it’s okay. How should it be discussed to let them know that it’s not okay and that the concerns are more than just ‘parent worries’?

• We want our kids to remain open and feel they can discuss anything with us. Once they know we disapprove of their actions they will be less likely to approach us about a specific situation.

 • Your teen hosts a party and you suspect substance abuse of one of the kids present,

but do not have proof. What actions should be taken?

• What do you do when your child comes home and tells you that he/she was at a party or out with friends drinking? I am worried about punishing/grounding as I feel it will close down talking. Also, it seems wrong to just let it go with warnings on the dangers of abusing alcohol.