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Health & Fitness

Back to School

Times of transition are challenging for most people.  Going back to school can be very stressful for many adolescents.   They often have to reestablish friendships and “prove” their status or maturity to peers. Negative peer pressure can have a powerful influence on students who may be struggling to fit in and maintain or establish friendships.  Stress associated with the beginning of school can result in teens using alcohol and drugs to “blow off steam.”  There is also a tremendous amount of stress to win and excel if a teen is involved with a sports team.  Many teens regard their athletic ability to be the thing that will distinguish them when they try to get into college.  If an athlete can get to the sectionals or states, they know that there will be college coaches attending these games. Drinking or using drugs including performance enhancing supplements can be associated with athletes who feel overwhelmed by this as well as academic pressures and lack of sleep.

 The beginning of the school year is an excellent time to discuss the negative health and social consequences of using alcohol and other drugs.   Research has shown that teens who believe their  parents disapprove of their smoking, drinking or using other drugs are less likely to do so which means that parents need to explain why they disapprove of use.  

As our children start back to school there is a resource for parents that was launched in the past year to help parents keep their children safe and healthy.  There is great power in being a parent and visiting powertotheparents.org will help parents learn techniques and strategies to protect their teen.  Take a look at the parent tool kit on this website to help you have that important back to school conversation with your teens.

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