October is National Red Ribbon Week Oct. 23 31, 2018 The Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week The STOP Underage Drinking in the Flathead Coalition has devoted its time and resources to help bring awareness to families about the risks of substance use by our youth in the Flathead Valley We strive to educate and support parents, so they may find community. the best way for their children to live happy, healthy, and productive lives. Youth ages 12 to 20 often binge drisk Poople ages 12 teough 20 dik 11 percest ofal alcohoi conued in Plays a signiticant sole is risky seal behaviot including unwanted ne UntedSules3A tough yulhdrink less onenba, auttdo.when hey 0o drink, they drink more That is because young people consume parthers Such behavir incases the risk for unplanned peancy and for oe than 90 pencent o th alohol by binge diking Bingeking is nbacting seally ated seases (STos),including ilection wth corouiming many drinks on an occasion (see bo, Orisking icohlandHV. the ius tha binge drinking become mone prevalent as young people get older SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES unitended and unrotected seuat actity, and se. , mulhple cades ADS Increases the rsk of physical and seual assaut What is binge drinkingt For aduts binge drinking means drining so much within about 2 hours r har blood alconel concenttion (BAC) levels reach neeres with brain development Reseach shows Ihal young peoples keep developng woll into thele 20s Aloohol can ater this 08 ge egal evlopment, potntally aectingboth risructne and functionThi of inoxication For women, this ypically occurs aer 4drinks, and for men, about 5 But, according to recenteseach estimabes, childen may seach theeBAC levls ar ewer drieks my cause cognveor eng problems andor tmake the brain oe prone oalohol dependence This is especialy a risk when people start drinkng Ages 9-13 About 3 drinks Ages 14-15 Abo 4 rins Ages 16-11 About S drin Ages 9-17: About 3 dinks Parents can heip eir childen avpid alcoholpeblm .Serengas psitt role modets general by Talking aboutthe danersll drinking and dug abute No making aloohol aailable tngto know their childensn Having regular conversations about lde in gene Connecting with other parents about sending lear messages about the importance o n driking aloohol or coing other drugs Supenviing al parties to make sure there is no aloohol d Encouraging kids to participate in healthy and tun activites hat do not invol alcohol or ds Research shows That childe whose parents are activly involved in eir ives ane ss iely to drik loohel WARNING SIGNS OF UNDERAGE DRINDING olescence is a time oll change and growh, Including behavior changes These changes usualy ane a nomal pat of growing up but sometimes can o no an aoonol proble Pars and teachers should pay clese aention tothe olewing waming signs tat may indcae underage drinking Changes in mood, including anger and li Academic and/or behavioral poblems in school Changing groups oll ted nding alcohol among a young persons things Smelling loohol on a young person's breath PREVENT, 9e DON'T PROVIDE You are the MOST powerful influence on your child's behavior If you would like more information or would like educational resources about preventing underage substance use, contact Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency. at (406) 756-5659 Please join the STOP Underage Drinking in the Flathead Coalition in supporting the Red Ribbon Week RIBBON CAMPAIGN X2X32X2XXXiX32X3iS