Experts say parents are key to helping teens avoid trouble

By Staff Writer

Parental interaction with teens is the key to discouraging adolescent substance abuse, the Los Altos Town Crier reports.

District attorneys and public defenders from the Los Altos area agreed in a public forum that parents are the key to keeping their kids out of trouble.

Experts say that alcohol can steer teens toward behavioral problems, which can lead to criminal activities. However, the greatest problem could lie in parents who let their children consume alcohol at home or allow parties that involve drinking on their property.

Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that alcohol abuse among teens can lead to memory problems, negative changes in brain development and disruptions to normal growth.

For minors who consider risky behavior, programs for troubled teens can encourage healthier life choices while promoting positive values. Additionally, boarding schools can help parents whose children are struggling academically, socially or behaviorally by setting beneficial goals.

A 2009 survey from The Department of Health and Human Services revealed that almost 43 percent of kids between the ages of 12 and 17 had consumed alcohol within the 30-day period before the study.