Decoder - Breaking down teen culture, substance abuse, and parenting

September 2009 – Decoder - Breaking down teen culture, substance abuse, and parenting

A Recent Wine Article That Left a Bad Taste

Sep 23, 2009 by Johanna Bailey | Categories Alcohol, Binge Drinking, Culture, Health, Magazines, Teenagers

Since I write a column for a Spanish gastronomy publication, I often find myself reading wine magazines to see what’s out there pleasing palates these days. I do wish I could be one of those people who delights in taking small delicate sniffs and dainty sips of a prized vintage before making learned comments in which I would toss around terms such as oaky and smoky. Alas, back in the day I tended to do much more swigging and swilling than I ever did swishing and sipping and therefore, it’s always a bit hard for me to relate to the whole world of wine-tasting. Tasting is all well and good but what’s the point really if you can’t go on to guzzle? That’s what I always say anyway. I guess that’s one of the reasons I no longer drink…

Back to my point. I was recently flipping through the June issue of Decanter magazine when I came across an article that really irritated me. It was called “How to Get Your Kids into Wine.” Author Beverley Blanning kicks off by writing about how horrible it is that the UK government has actually given the warning that “Parents and young people should be aware that drinking, even at age 15 or older, can be hazardous to health and not drinking is the healthiest option for young people.”

Blanning seems to be genuinely perplexed as to how the government can warn that drinking might be hazardous when magazines such as Decanter exist. Obviously, reasons Blanning, there are plenty of people who enjoy wine for reasons other than its alcohol content so isn’t the government overreacting just a bit? “There has to be an alternative message about wine for children, a way to install an appreciation of its essential qualities from an early age; one that could arguably save them from likely abuse.” Blanning’s solution to this problem is a bit fuzzy but seems to mainly involve sharing the virtues of wine with your children rather than demonizing it and allowing them to taste if it they’re interested.

What really bugged me about this article was that Blanning seems to believe that abuse of alcohol amongst young people happens solely as a form of rebellion against unenlightened and puritanical parents who tell their kids that drinking is bad. Furthermore, she implies that readers of the magazine are less likely to have to worry about abuse in the first place. At one point she writes, “So what is the best way to teach children about responsible enjoyment of wine? And, assuming Decanter readers’ children aren’t the types to tear up the streets after a glass, what is the best way to actually encourage a genuine interest in wine?” Ah, if only my parents had read Decanter- I never would have developed a drinking problem!

Nowhere in the article does Blanning use the word “alcoholism.” Instead, she downplays the problems that can arise from drinking wine, comparing its dangers to the hazards that can come from excessive consumption of salt, sugar, or processed foods. She also trots out that tired old maxim about all the Europeans who grow up drinking wine at the dinner table as children and then go on to become deliriously happy and high-functioning non-alcoholic adults. Why does this myth continue to perpetuate? I live in Europe and just as it is in the US, adolescent binge drinking is a huge problem in countries such as France and Spain.

I don’t believe in teaching children that all drinking is bad and dangerous. I do, however, think that it’s crucial to educate them responsibly. This means that while it’s fine to extol the virtues of wine, it’s just as important to discuss its possible health risks as well, and to remember that alcoholism is a problem that affects all levels of society — even the children of Decanter magazine subscribers.

	Posted by: Johanna Bailey \| 1 Comment(s)
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Be a WebSafe Parent - protect your kids from pro-drug web content

Sep 21, 2009 by Steve Pasierb | Categories Advice, Age Appropriate Advice, Alcohol, Culture, Drugs, Illegal Activity, Internet, Monitoring, Prescription Medicine/Rx Drugs

One of the questions that comes up time and again is how do we safeguard our children from being exposed to drugs and pro drug use content on the Internet?

Most parents are already attuned to risks on the web like online predators and sexual content. Increasingly, sites that promote illicit drug use — actually explaining which drugs to use and how to do it — are coming to the attention of parents as their children are exposed. What’s more, rogue online pharmacies and their e-mail spam promote painkillers and other drugs to teens with “no prescription needed” while blogs and teen content portray drug and alcohol abuse as no big deal.

Our colleagues at the Treatment Research Institute in Philadelphia have been studying the growth of these sites. They came away so worried about the scale and scope that they’ve invited us to partner with them and an Internet developer to launch a new online platform called WebSafe Parent available at www.websafeparent.com

WebSafe will be an online community educating adults about this content and how their children are exposed to it. WebSafe will also provide Community Alerts that regularly notify registered “WebSafe Parents” about new and potentially harmful websites and other threats. Parents who want to go a step further can purchase state-of-the-art software that can monitor and control how long, when and what sites children are visiting — and even block children from giving out personal information. Longer term, members will be invited to join local “WebSafe Communities” where they can exchange information about threats with other adults in their area.

This is an increasingly digital world where teens surf freely and much of the time profit greatly from the experience. Our goal through this latest partnership is to enlighten and empower parents to protect their kids when they get into situations that can ultimately prove dangerous. It’s also a prime opportunity to remind parents and caregivers of the immense power and influence you have to help your kids make the right choices for themselves!

What are your thoughts on the content kids are exposed to on the web? Do you think your kids have discovered pro drug, sexual or other content?

	Posted by: Steve Pasierb \| 3 Comment(s)
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Honoring Performances that Show the Real-Life Effects of Drugs, Alcohol

Sep 16, 2009 by Joe Keenan | Categories Addiction, Alcohol, Celebrities, Depression, Drugs, General, Health, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Role Models, Television

Performance in a Feature Film, Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”; Performance in a Drama Multi-Episode Storyline, Benjamin Bratt, “The Cleaner”; Performance in a Comedy Series, Dana Delany, “Desperate Housewives”; Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries, Chandra Wilson, “Accidental Friendship”; Talk Show Episode, Dr. Phil, “The Bridge” Credits: Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. and PRISM Awards

Last night the Partnership was proud to co-sponsor the Entertainment Industries Council’s 2009 PRISM Awards showcase on Capitol Hill. The PRISM Awards are presented each year to members of the entertainment industry to honor the accurate depiction of substance abuse, treatment, recovery and mental health issues. Given the power of the media to shape our attitudes and beliefs, it is so important for theses issues to be shown accurately so that the public is aware of both the negative consequences of substance abuse as well as the hope of recovery.

Those of us who are parents of teenagers know how upsetting it is to see the lessons we try to teach our kids about the dangers of drugs be undermined when a television show, movie or song glamorizes drug use and neglects to show any negative consequences. It was great to be part of an event that celebrates actors like Anne Hathaway for her performance in “Rachel Getting Married,” Benjamin Bratt for his work on “The Cleaner,” Dana Delaney for her performance on Desperate Housewives and Chandra Wilson for her role in the TV movie “Accidental Friendship.” Their work does not simply entertain – it also helps to educate the public about the diseases of addiction and mental illness.

Nine cable networks – including FX, E!, and Lifetime – will broadcast the PRISM Awards on September 26th.

Learn more information about the awards and and view a full list of the honorees.

	Posted by: Joe Keenan \| 1 Comment(s)
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