With exam results around the corner, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging parents and guardians to talk to young people now about the risks of drinking alcohol and taking drugs. 

Thousands of teenagers across Northern Ireland will receive their A-level and GCSE results in the coming weeks, marking an important milestone. While this can be an exciting time for some, others will be coping with disappointment and emotions can run high. We can often see excessive drinking or drug taking on results night. 

It is extremely important to support young people, and have open and honest conversations about alcohol and drugs before results day to help make sure everyone is aware of the risks and encourage them to make more informed choices. 

Stephanie Hanlon, Regional Lead for Substance Use at the PHA, said: “Parents and guardians can make the first move and talk openly and honestly about the dangers of drinking and encourage young people to have fun with friends without alcohol or drugs. Every young person will respond differently but by starting the conversation early, parents can help young people feel supported.  Don’t wait until there is a problem before deciding to talk.

“If they are likely to be drinking, encourage them to take care if they choose to do so and warn them of the dangers of mixing alcohol and other drugs. In the short term, the undesirable effects of drinking too much can include vomiting and hangovers. However, more serious risks from drinking heavily can include damage to vital organs such as damage to the liver, heart, brain and stomach, and falls or accidents that can result in injury.

“Drinking too much can also affect our judgement, leading us to do things we wouldn’t otherwise do and that we might regret later. These can include unplanned sexual activity, relationship difficulties and getting into violent situations.

“Parents’ and other family members’ attitudes and behaviours in relation to alcohol and drugs can have a strong influence on young people, so take that step to talk about it openly. In doing so it might also make you think about whether the relationship you have with alcohol is positive or not.”

Helpful tips for parents/guardians:

Do

• Make the first move and bring up the topic of alcohol. Don’t wait until there’s a problem before you decide to talk.
• Take time to listen to what young people have to say.
• Respect their views if you want the same in return.
• Discuss the risks associated with drinking alcohol.
• Discuss possible consequences of their actions and support them to make the right choices.
• Think about your own drinking and the influence this can have on young people’s behaviour.

Don’t

• Assume young people don’t want to talk. Not talking to them about alcohol could be interpreted as your approval of them drinking.
• Assume they already know everything.

• Interrupt or be judgemental, even if you don’t agree with their opinion.

   

Stephanie continued: “Some people also choose to use drugs around this time, and young people may experience peer pressure to experiment with drugs. It can be difficult when you feel under pressure in a group to say no, so it’s important to talk to young people about how to manage those situations.

“We can never be sure what is in any drug. Even if we’re told by someone we know that a drug is safe, there is no way of knowing how your body will react and using drugs can cause serious damage to your health and even death. Whilst it’s safest not to use drugs at all, we know that some people may choose to use substances, so our priority is to help reduce the possible harm. 

“The danger when taking drugs increases if you mix more than one substance. It’s also easy to forget that alcohol itself is a powerful drug and mixing any other drugs with alcohol can be unpredictable and dangerous. The risk can increase further when people are in an unfamiliar setting or get detached from their friends. Small decisions like drinking water, not mixing substances and looking out for each other can make a big difference to helping us staying safe.

“Parents and guardians can play an important role in helping young people understand these risks, so that they don’t choose to take drugs without realising the harm they could be exposing themselves to. it’s also important to emphasise that if someone they are with has taken drugs and is feeling unwell, they need to seek medical help urgently. Young people will be worried about getting in to trouble but remind them they need to look out for their friends, stay with them and get help – it could save their lives.”

Results time can also have an impact on young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Stephanie said: “Not getting the grades they hoped for can result in feeling anxious or low. Disappointment is an understandable reaction. It’s important not to neglect the possible impact of this stress on mental and emotional wellbeing.

“Parents and guardians are urged to look out for behaviour or feelings that could indicate that their young people are showing signs of stress and make sure to talk to each other about how we’re feeling and understand the impact that these feelings can have.” 

More information on looking after mental health and the support available in Northern Ireland can be found at www.MindingYourHead.info.

For information, advice and support for alcohol and drug use, visit www.DrugsAndAlcoholNI.info