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Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Choices: A Summer of Wellness

 A focus on overall wellness in your family can naturally support substance abuse prevention. When teens feel healthy, busy, and confident, they are less likely to turn to alcohol or drugs. SSAPCO’s mission has always included promoting healthy alternatives for youth – helping them find fun and fulfillment without substances. So, challenge your family to make this summer about healthy living together. Encourage your teen to stay active, eat well, and keep their body and mind in good shape. Perhaps they can join a local sports league, go swimming at the pool, or simply take nightly walks – exercise not only improves physical health but can also reduce stress and boost mood (which means less temptation to use substances as a pick-me-up). Good nutrition and adequate sleep similarly make a huge difference in a teen’s mood and decision-making. Emphasize that taking care of themselves is part of being responsible – it’s hard to make smart choices if you’re overtired, hungry, or not fee...
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Strengthening Family Bonds to Foster Resilient Kids

 One of the most powerful protective factors for teens is a strong, supportive family relationship . In the wake of Kristi Lance’s heartfelt message – which reminded every parent in the room how precious our children are – it’s a perfect time to double down on bonding with your teen. Teens who feel close to their parents and who have consistent, caring communication at home are more likely to make healthy decisions and less likely to engage in substance use pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov . By nurturing trust and staying involved in your child’s life, you make it more likely they’ll turn to you when facing tough choices. Sadly, a recent survey found that over 85% of teens would avoid calling their parents for help and would instead consider driving impaired or riding with an impaired driver, because they fear punishment poweredbypartners.org . That statistic is scary – but it’s something we as parents can change by building an atmosphere of trust. Make sure your teen knows unequivocally th...
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Setting Boundaries to Prevent Underage Drinking

 Being a parent means sometimes being “uncool” – and that’s okay! Setting firm house rules about alcohol and drug use is one of the most effective ways to keep your teen safe. Kristi Lance’s story is a painful testament to why we must be clear and unwavering: no parent ever wants to face the loss of a child to an impaired driving crash. Make sure your teen knows your family rules: no underage drinking, period; no parties at your house where alcohol is available; and they must never ride with someone who’s been drinking or using drugs. Explain the reasoning behind the rules – not just “because I said so,” but because you love them and want to spare them (and others) from the worst outcomes. Share some eye-opening facts: For instance, kids who start drinking at a young age are 7 times more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash in their life sanfranciscomoms.com , and a huge portion of teen auto fatalities involve alcohol. The legal drinking age exists for a reason – teen brains...
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Drive Safe and Sober: Setting the Standard for Teen Drivers

 Learning to drive is a milestone for teens – and a huge responsibility. After the Every 15 Minutes program’s dramatic mock crash and hearing from Kristi Lance about the real-life consequences of impaired driving, your teen is likely more aware than ever of why driving sober is non-negotiable. Reinforce that lesson at home by setting strict rules for the car: absolutely no driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or any impairing substance , and no getting in a car with an impaired driver. Make it clear that one bad decision behind the wheel can have permanent consequences – something Kristi’s family knows all too well. Also, broaden the safety talk beyond drunk driving: emphasize that distracted driving (texting, messing with music, etc.) can be just as deadly. In fact, recent figures show more teens are now killed in text-related crashes than in drunk-driving crashes en.wikipedia.org . “Impairment” isn’t just alcohol – anything that takes eyes or mind off the road p...
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Supporting Youth Mental Health and Fighting Boredom

 School’s out, routines change, and teens suddenly have a lot of free time on their hands. While summer brings freedom, it can also bring boredom or loneliness – factors that sometimes tempt teens toward alcohol or drug use as “something to do.” In fact, the risk of adolescents experimenting with substances increases during the summer months when they’re out of school and bored kidcentraltn.com . Add to that the emotional impact of events like Every 15 Minutes (which can stir up anxiety, sadness, or reflection in teens who witnessed the mock crash and Kristi Lance’s story), and it’s clear that focusing on mental health is crucial. Parents can play a big role in promoting positive coping and emotional wellness for youth. Check in with your teen about how they’re feeling – not just about the drunk-driving program, but about friends, life, and stresses in general. Normalize conversations around mental health and coping strategies, so teens understand it’s okay to feel upset or over...
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Connecting Youth to Their Community

 One powerful way to steer youth toward healthy choices is to get them involved in community service . After seeing how an entire community can be affected by one tragic impaired-driving incident, it’s a great time to reinforce the value of community connection and responsibility . Volunteering locally – whether through a charity drive, neighborhood clean-up, or helping at a community event – gives teens a sense of purpose and belonging. It also fills idle summer hours with positive activities, reducing boredom (which can lead to risky behavior). Research shows that when schools, families, and communities actively engage young people , it serves as a protective factor that helps them avoid drug use and other problem behaviors pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov . By serving others, teens often develop empathy and leadership skills, strengthening their resolve to make good choices (they see firsthand the impact one person can have on many). Kristi Lance’s message highlighted how the community gri...
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Safe Summer Celebrations – No Tragedies on Our Watch

 With the school year ending, graduation parties and summertime hangouts are in full swing. It’s a joyful time, but as Kristi Lance’s experience reminds us, one wrong choice – like driving after drinking – can turn celebration into tragedy. Prom and graduation season are especially high-risk: roughly one-third of alcohol-related teen traffic fatalities occur between April and June poweredbypartners.org . As a parent, you can help ensure that summer gatherings stay fun and safe. Encourage celebrations that don’t involve alcohol or drugs, and make adult supervision the norm for teen parties. Talk with other parents to create a united front on curfews, venue safety, and zero alcohol for minors. Emphasize to your teen that nothing is worth a life-threatening risk on a night meant to be memorable – the loss shared by Kristi Lance is a heartbreaking reminder of that. By planning ahead and setting clear guidelines, you can let your kids enjoy their summer milestones while preventing im...
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