The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States is done by those between the ages of 12 and 20, even though the legal drinking age is 21.[1] While many factors contribute to this statistic, the drinking culture that exists in society plays a large role in a teen’s decision to drink and impacts those trying to stay sober. As an adolescent alcohol rehab in Iowa, Ember Recovery is committed to helping teens get on a path to recovery and stay sober. Our team has compiled several tips that teens can use to stay sober in a drinking culture, as well as information on how the Ember Recovery team is here to help.
How Teens Can Stay Sober in a Drinking Culture
Teens who want to remain sober are challenged by society and friends who normalize drinking. This drinking culture is present on social media where research shows that 32% to 65% of social media users were exposed to alcohol from other users and that most posts displayed alcohol in a positive setting, promoting the behavior.[2]
Peer pressure also impacts teens’ choice to drink. Seeing friends drink and being pressured to do the same can lead teens to follow, even if they weren’t intending to in the first place. Teens may feel as though they need to drink to fit in at a party or when hanging out with friends. The fear of not being part of the group or missing out on activities can lead to underage drinking.
Despite the pressures to drink coming from just about everywhere, there are several things that teens can do to remain sober.
Limit Social Media Exposure
Since social media is bombarded with images of people drinking and having fun with no consequences, teens can limit the amount of time they spend on various platforms. This can reduce the dangerous content they are exposed to and hopefully prevent them from drinking.
Parents can also set controls on devices that make apps inaccessible after a certain time. This can ensure that teens will only spend a limited time on these platforms and reduce their exposure to images of people drinking.
Practice Saying No
Saying no when faced with alcohol in a social setting can be difficult. By practicing what to say, teens can feel more comfortable when put in the same situation. You can role-play with them to help them feel more comfortable if they are faced with the decision to drink.
Plan Sober Activities
By planning sober activities, teens can feel safe that they won’t be pressured to drink. If you’re hosting an event at your home, you can also have peace of mind that your teen will be safe. Some ideas for sober activities can include a movie night, pizza night, or a game night. If your teen suggests these types of events, they may be surprised at just how many of their friends would appreciate a chance to have fun without facing the pressures of drinking.
Avoid Certain Situations & People
Sometimes the best way to avoid pressure to drink is to avoid the people who are drinking. This way, you won’t be tempted at all to drink. If the people around you won’t respect the fact that you don’t want to drink and are trying to remain sober, then maybe they don’t deserve to be your friend. If they see that you are avoiding them because of this, you may prompt them to make changes in their own lives.
Establish Healthy Relationships
As you avoid certain situations and people, you can also begin to establish healthy relationships with people who won’t pressure you to drink. These people respect your decision and know how drinking will negatively affect you. When you begin to establish healthy relationships, you will see that there are plenty of people around who want to see you succeed in your sobriety.
Don’t Accept Random Drinks
The peer pressure to drink may be forced upon teens if they are handed a cup and don’t know what’s in it. Teens should never accept a drink from someone they don’t know and should never accept something if they don’t know the source. Drinks can be spiked by other teens who are pressuring their peers to drink even when they say no.
Understand the Risks of Drinking
Many times, teens do not understand the risks that come with underage drinking. While society does a good job of glorifying drinking, not as much is done to show the dangerous consequences that can go along with this behavior. Besides doing bodily harm to themselves, teens can harm others. If they get in a car and attempt to drive under the influence, they can harm innocent people.
Underage drinking can also lead to risky behaviors. Since decision-making is distorted, teens may engage in unprotected sex and other behaviors that can lead to dangerous consequences. One way to avoid this from happening is to say no when pressured to drink.
Contact Ember Recovery for Adolescent Alcohol Rehab in Iowa
If you are looking for an adolescent alcohol rehab in Iowa, Ember Recovery is here to help. We specialize in treating adolescents and young adults because we know that they face different challenges than adults who are dealing with a substance use disorder. Our programs are geared towards their needs and tailored to each client so that they can get on a path to sobriety. We offer residential programs as well as aftercare planning so that all of our clients can continue their sobriety when faced with life’s challenges. At Ember Recovery, we also provide dual diagnosis treatment for patients who are also dealing with a mental health disorder as well as a substance use disorder. Our team provides the necessary treatment to help teens and young adults battle both conditions simultaneously.
If you want to learn about our adolescent rehab and other programs we offer, contact the Ember Recovery team today.
Sources:
- https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/underage-drinking/community-strategies.html
- https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/alcohol-use-disorder-technology-and-treatement
- https://www.talkitoutnc.org/teenage-alcohol-abuse-statistics
Andrea Dickerson is a Licensed Therapist and Certified Substance Use Counselor who has worked in behavioral health since 1997. Currently, Andrea is the Director of Behavioral Health, overseeing the Ember residential treatment programs and YSS outpatient counseling clinics throughout Central and North Central Iowa. She became a Motivational Interviewing (MI) trainer in 2006 and provides MI trainings throughout Iowa.
Andrea specializes in working with adolescents and their families and enjoys seeing the family relationships grow through therapy. Andrea is also a CARF International Surveyor, going around North America ensuring behavioral health organizations are meeting required standards.
In her free time, Andrea enjoys cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs, as well as being an active member of Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA), a global organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. She has been a member of the SI of Des Moines club since 2012 and has been actively involved at the regional level, currently serving as Co-Governor of the Peaks to Plains Region.
Through her involvement in SIA, Andrea has been actively involved in the Dream Programs, coordinating annual Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls projects, which give girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse.