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There are several social and health consequences which make underage drinking a serious public health problem. Underage drinking contributes to:

• Risky sexual behavior and unintended pregnancies
• Sexually transmitted diseases such as genital herpes and AIDS
• Academic failure and dropping out of school
• Criminal behavior-perpetrating rape, assault, robbery, murder and other violent crimes
• Becoming the victim of rape, assault, robbery, murder, and other violent crimes

By delaying drinking until age 21, a young person reduces the risk of developing a serious alcohol-related problems by 70%. For every year that adolescents delay using alcohol, they decrease the odds of lifelong dependence by 14%, and alcohol abuse by 8%. Help stop underage drinking.

Action Steps to Make Clear Rules and Enforce Them with Consistency and Appropriate Consequences

1. Discuss your rules and expectations in advance. Let your child know the consequences of broken rules or unmet expectations. These rules can apply to schoolwork, chores, behavior at home, and behavior outside of home.

2. Follow through with the consequences you have established. If your child breaks the rules, it's important to follow through with the consequences you discussed. If you don't follow through, you send the message that your rules are not really important and that it's okay to break them. Children really do want you to show you care enough to set limits and enforce them.

3. Acknowledge when they follow the rules. Catch your child "being good" and praise him for it. Take every opportunity to support your child's decision to follow a rule or to meet or exceed your expectations. Positive reinforcement helps your child develop self-confidence and trust in his own judgment while seeing the benefit of following your rules.

4. Discuss why using tobacco and illegal drugs and underage drinking are not acceptable. Let you child know why you don't want her to use drugs: you love her too much to ever want her to get hurt or get into trouble. Talk together about your family values. Remember, when a child decides whether or not to use alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs, a crucial consideration is, "What will my parents think?"

How to Start the Conversation

If you decide to sit down with your friend and talk to him or her about his or her drug use or dinking, you may not know what to say. You may wonder how she will respond. Will he get defensive? Will she deny she has a problem? Will he get mad at you and tell you to mind your own business? It's likely that he or she will. People with drug or alcohol problems usually defend their use or make excuses for it. It's hard for people to admit to themselves that they have a drug or alcohol problem.

• Start by telling your friend how much she means to you and that you are worried about her.
  
• Give examples of when his drug use or drinking has caused problems or affected you or others.
  
• Let her know that you want to help and tell her what you will do for her.
  
• Discuss this issue when your friend is not high.
  
• If you aren't comfortable having this conversation with your friend by yourself, get some other friends to help you out - there's safety and support in numbers. Be careful not to "gang up" on your friend.
  
• Try talking in confidence to an adult that you trust before talking to your friend. There are many people that can help you figure out the best approach - like a trusted family member, teacher, coach, school counselor or student assistance professional, family doctor, school nurse or faith leader.
  
• If you are not comfortable talking with your friend face-to-face, try writing a note or an e-mail.
  

It's Not Your Fault

Helping a friend with a drug or alcohol problem is hard work and can be very difficult experience for you as well as your friend. You may feel a great deal of pressure to get your friend to stop doing drugs or drinking, or you may get discouraged if your efforts to convince your friend to stop using drugs or alcohol don't work. But it is important to know that your friend's drug or alcohol use is NOT your fault. Remember that it's ultimately up to your friend to make that change and you can't do that for him. Sometimes, as much as you may try to get your friend to quit or seek help, you just can't seem to make it happen. If you find yourself in this situation, you should do one of the following:

• Seek support from other friends or trusted adults - your friend is not the only one who needs help in this situation.
  
• Limit the time you spend with your drug- or alcohol-using friend. Remember your friend's use may also be putting you at risk.
  
• Start thinking about yourself - get out and participate in activities that you enjoy to take your mind off of the situation.
  

Signs and Symptoms

Does your friend have a drug or drinking problem? If your friend does one or more of the following, chances are there is a problem.

• She is using regularly and has to use drugs or alcohol to have a good time or cope with everyday life.
  
• He starts hanging out with new friends who will do drugs with him or who can score drugs for him.
  
• She shows up at school drunk or high or has skipped class to use.
  
• He's broken plans with you, or showed up late, because he was getting high or drunk.
  
• She shows little interest or drops out altogether from activities she once enjoyed, like sports or music.
  
• He uses drugs or drinks when he is alone.
  
• She has driven a car while high or drunk, or has ridden with someone else who was high or drunk.
  
• He borrows money from you to buy drugs or alcohol, or asks you to hold his drugs for him.
  
• You feel like you must baby-sit her when she is high or drunk to keep her from doing things she might regret, like having sex or getting into a fight with her parents.
  
• He's having difficulty with family relationships and letting his family and friends down.