Horizon High Students Speak at the Wisconsin Association of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Conference

Congratulations and thanks go out to several local teenagers who participated in a panel discussion on recovery schools at the Wisconsin Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse conference in Middleton Tuesday, May 11. Amy Sanchez, Connor Johnson and Sam Doctor shared their stories and talked about how recovery schooling has helped them succeed. Their involvement shows real dedication and insight. Way to go!

Unfortunately, involved teenagers like Amy, Connor and Sam, who are able to talk about their experiences with alcohol and drugs, are still the exception to the “Don’t talk, don’t tell” rule. And that, experts agree, should not be the case.

Surveys prove—and anyone who spends time with teenagers will confirm—that usage is not a hot topic of discussion. But recent news points to the importance of bringing up the subject anyway, for the health of your teen. And doctors, it turns out, can play an important role in getting the conversation started if parents are struggling.

Last month a national pediatrics organization issued a policy statement confirming that frank talks between teens and their doctors might prove to be a crucial step in stopping harmful behaviors.

The Committee on Substance Abuse for the American Academy of Pediatrics, based in San Antonio, Texas encourages early screening—starting at the middle school level—to determine potential alcohol abuse. If followed up by helpful discussions on strategies to avoid drinking and how to seek help, this could protect teenagers from permanent brain damage, which could include future organizational, memory and emotional problems.

Dr. Patricia Kokotailo, director of adolescent medicine and associate dean for faculty development and faculty affairs at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, said the policy statement “provides better evidence about how alcohol affects the brains of young people and why it is important to screen children.”

“A remarkable amount of brain development is still occurring for young people through their 20s,” said Dr. Kokotailo, the lead author of the study.

Few teenagers think about the long-term consequences of early alcohol consumption. And while it may not be easy to get the conversation going, enlisting a family doctor to help is a step in the right direction.