Teens & Spring Break

March 2006

More teens than ever are putting themselves at risk during Spring Break.

According to travel industry experts, approximately one in seven high school students under the age of 18 take unsupervised trips during Spring Break. Teens can even be at risk when they stay at home during break. Unsupervised time, money to spend, and peer pressure to "let loose" can be a recipe for risky behaviors, including drug use. More teens start using marijuana, cigarettes, and alcohol for the first time between the spring and summer months - prime time for teens on Spring Break and time unsupervised by parents or teachers. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s Media Campaign needs your help to alert parents in your community about the dangers associated with Spring Break.

While many people associate Spring Break with college age kids, the Media Campaign is urging parents of high school teens to know the risks associated with this time of year, before they agree to send their child on unsupervised holidays.

We are calling on parents to take action during this period, whether their teen is staying home, or going away on Spring Break trip. Share this checklist with parents in your community. It offers three tips on keeping teens safe during Spring Break:

1. SET RULES, especially no drinking or drugs
   • Be clear and specific about your expectations. Spring Break should not mean a break from responsibility.
   • Talk candidly about the risks of drug use and drinking, including alcohol poisoning, violence, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual assault.
2. PREPARE your teen
   • Give teens tips on how to protect themselves, such as using a buddy system to watch out for each other.
   • Walk through different scenarios and discuss how to handle pressures, including offers of drugs or alcohol and other risky situations.
3. KEEP MONITORING
   • Know your teen’s itinerary and where he/she is staying.
   • If they are staying home, know how they spend their unsupervised time.
   • Ask questions. Require a daily check-in via cell phone and make sure your teen is reachable. Make sure to have cell phone numbers for your teen’s friends and check in with them as necessary too.
   • Network with and connect with other parents to confirm plans and coordinate ground rules

More Spring Break tips and information are available at:
www.TheAntiDrug.com/springbreak.

"It’s important that parents resist the impulse to just do what their teen wants," said Dr. Phillippe Cunningham, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina, Family Services Research Center. "You’re the parent. You are not alone if you’re uncomfortable sending your teen on a week vacation to Cancun. This just shows that your parental instincts are intact. Generally, adult supervision is inadequate during Spring Break trips. Research is clear, parental monitoring is a key parenting tool that can reduce youth risky behavior. Rely on your parental judgment, ask questions, and talk to other parents. Put a stop to the trip if you are uneasy with the amount of adult supervision or structure that will be provided. An alternative would be a community service project."

Research shows that parents are a powerful deterrent to drug or alcohol use, even when teens are far from home. The majority of teens say the greatest risk in using marijuana is upsetting their parents or losing the respect of friends and families.

For more advice on preparing your teen for a safe Spring Break, and free resources to help parents raise healthy, safe and drug-free teens, visit www.TheAntiDrug.com.