Salmon Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

 Preventing underage drinking isn’t only about warning teens what not to do – it’s also about showing them all the positive things they can do. One of the most effective ways to keep youth away from alcohol is to engage them in healthy alternatives that fulfill their need for fun, excitement, belonging, and achievement. At the same time, empowering young people to take pride in an alcohol-free lifestyle and to become leaders in their peer group can create a powerful pro-health momentum. This final article explores how promoting positive identities, providing enriching activities, and giving youth a voice can together steer teens toward alcohol-free lifestyles that are fulfilling and cool. Filling the Void with Positive Activities: Teens often cite boredom or curiosity as reasons for experimenting with alcohol. The antidote is to ensure there are plenty of appealing, alcohol-free activities available. Communities and schools can play a huge role here. Afterschool programs, sp...

 Peer pressure has long been recognized as a powerful force in adolescence, and in today’s digital age, social media amplifies peer influence like never before . Teens are constantly connected – scrolling through Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok – seeing curated snapshots of their friends’ lives. Unfortunately, this can create false norms and perceptions about behaviors like drinking. If it seems like “everyone is partying,” a teenager might feel that they have to drink to fit in or that abstaining is abnormal. Here, we’ll explore how social media and peer pressure intertwine to shape teen perceptions of alcohol, and how false norms can be corrected through awareness and communication. Teens on their smartphones often encounter images of parties, drinking, and “fun” – which can distort their perception of how common underage drinking really is. Social media provides a constant feed of peer activities and can intensify the feeling of peer pressure to partake in similar behaviors. The...

 When it comes to preventing underage drinking, parents and caregivers are perhaps the single most influential factor in a teenager’s life. While peers and media certainly affect youth behavior, studies consistently show that strong family communication, clear boundaries, and positive role-modeling by parents can significantly reduce the likelihood that a child will misuse alcohol. In other words, parents have power – a great deal of it – to shape their kids’ attitudes and decisions about drinking. The key is using that influence through open conversation, support, and consistent expectations. SSAPCO’s mission of preventing youth substance misuse relies heavily on engaging parents as allies in this cause. Adolescents are much less likely to drink when parents set clear rules and model healthy behavior. Research indicates that teens whose parents have strict attitudes against underage drinking are among the least likely to misuse alcohol​ bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com . Con...

 Adolescence can be an emotionally turbulent time. Many teens struggle with stress, anxiety, or depression , and some may turn to alcohol as a way to cope or escape. Unfortunately, using alcohol to deal with feelings is like treating a wound with salt – it often makes things worse. There is a strong relationship between underage drinking and mental health challenges: not only can mental health issues lead some teens to drink, but drinking can also exacerbate or trigger problems like depression and anxiety . In compassionate terms, it’s important to understand this cycle and how to help young people break it. Alcohol as a False Refuge: It’s not uncommon for teenagers to feel overwhelmed – by academic pressure, social troubles, family issues, or the hormonal rollercoaster of puberty. In moments of despair or high anxiety, a teen might see alcohol as a quick way to “numb” uncomfortable emotions . Alcohol is a depressant drug, and in the short term it can make a person feel relaxed, ...

 Underage drinking isn’t only risky in the moment – it can also lead to serious legal and life consequences that can follow a young person for years. When a minor chooses to drink alcohol, they’re breaking the law, and that choice can snowball into penalties or events that affect their education, employment, and future. From legal trouble with law enforcement to impacts on one’s driver’s license and school standing, underage alcohol use can derail the normal course of adolescence. Here we’ll explore how a night of underage drinking can turn into long-term fallout , and why these consequences matter. Breaking the Law: In the United States, it is illegal for anyone under 21 to possess or consume alcohol (with very limited exceptions in some jurisdictions). This means any teen caught drinking at a party, using a fake ID to buy beer, or even just holding a red solo cup of vodka punch at a park is technically committing a misdemeanor in most cases. The immediate legal consequences c...

 One of the most dangerous aspects of underage drinking is how it lowers inhibitions and leads to other risky behaviors . Alcohol impairs judgment – especially in adolescents – which can result in teens making poor decisions they likely wouldn’t make while sober. From drunk driving to unsafe sexual encounters, underage drinking is often intertwined with a host of negative or even life-threatening behaviors . By exploring these connections, we can better appreciate why keeping alcohol out of kids’ hands is so critical for their safety. Why Alcohol Fuels Risk-Taking: The teenage brain is already wired to seek new experiences and can underestimate consequences. Add alcohol to the mix, and that natural impulsivity is magnified. Drinking impairs the brain’s decision-making centers , making teens more likely to do things on a whim without considering the dangers. In fact, young people who drink are more likely to engage in risky behaviors that can lead to injuries or health issues​ cd...