Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions parents have about how to keep their teen-aged children safe from alcohol and drug use. Click each link to watch a video on each topic with adolescent substance abuse expert Dr. John Knight.

How do I keep my kid safe at the after-prom party?

But- I want to be a cool parent

Doesn’t my teen need to drink to be popular?

Should I lock up the alcohol at home?

Should I let my kid hang out at the park?

Is it OK to let my teen have a sip of a drink?

How do I handle my teen going to a sleepover?

I hear kids are bringing alcohol in water bottles…

Is it OK to search my kid’s room?

What do I do when my teen comes home drunk?

Question

Here’s something that happens a lot. At family gatherings, Christmas, Thanksgiving – often times my relatives will offer my kids a sip of their drink. Is that OK?

Answer

• A single drink at a special occasion may be OK.

• It is never okay to supply alcohol for teenagers to drink on their own.

• Research shows that in the developing brain even small exposure to alcohol can create problems.

• The safest approach is to make them wait till they are 21 years old.