Frequent Family Dinners Fight Substance Use!

It is true!  According to research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs. Discussions that go on during a sit-down, relaxed dinner help you learn more about your child, his/her life, and the challenges he/she faces daily. 

Check out the CASA website for tons of great information and ideas around a parents’ role in substance abuse prevention.  In the meantime, here is some information around the influence of parents and families (taken directly from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University’s website http://www.casafamilyday.org/index.html).

 Children and teens who have frequent family dinners:

            • are at half the risk for substance abuse compared to teens who dine with their families infrequently

            • are less likely to have friends or classmates who use illicit drugs or abuse prescription drugs

            • have lower levels of tension and stress at home

            • are more likely to say that their parents are proud of them

            • are likelier to say they can confide in their parents

            • are likelier to get better grades in school

            • are more likely to be emotionally content and have positive peer relationships

            • have healthier eating habits

            • are at lower risk for thoughts of suicide

            • are less likely to try marijuana or have friends who use marijuana

 A key to staying actively involved in your teen’s life is relationships.  Do you know and talk to her friends?  Do you know and talk to her friends’ parents?  Do you know and talk to your neighbors?  Most importantly, do you know and talk to her?  Getting to know your child and the people he/she values will help you stay on top of the activities in which he/she is involved. 

Until next time…stay happy and healthy!

Kate Senecal, ASAC