Term 3 2017 - Parents

Positive Choices Issue #10: Keeping you up-to-date with evidence-based drug prevention.

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The aim of this e-newsletter is to provide our subscribers with information about new research findings and drug prevention resources, and to share relevant news, conferences and events.

Thank you for subscribing to the Positive Choices newsletter, and welcome to our Spring Holiday issue for 2017.

This quarter, we tackle the sometimes daunting prospect of having a conversation with your teenager about alcohol use. Not only is it important to start the conversation and encourage open communication with your teenager, it's also important for parents to communicate with other parents, in order to strengthen networks and develop a shared understanding around situations such as teenage parties and rule-setting around alcohol use. Please help us spread the word by forwarding this newsletter to parents in your school or networks, and encourage them to subscribe themselves at www.positivechoices.org.au.

How to talk with teenagers about alcohol use

It's important to discuss alcohol with your teenager(s) from an early age, and make sure they understand your expectations around alcohol. Clearly communicated rules about alcohol use and parental disapproval of alcohol can protect against earlier uptake of alcohol and is associated with lower levels of drinking in adolescence. Research shows that open, two-way communication between parents and their children reduces the risk of alcohol-related harms. Instead of simply telling your children your thoughts on the subject, try to get them to talk about whether they have concerns about alcohol use or peer pressure. This can help you to come to a set of rules that both parties agree on and understand. It's also important to talk about how their friends' drinking can affect your child, for example, how to deal with a friend who is aggressive when he/she drinks, and to avoid getting into cars when the driver has been drinking.

If you're feeling hesitant to broach this subject with your children, you're not alone. Knowing how to start a conversation with teenagers about alcohol use, or the most effective ways to handle this topic is not always easy. That's why the latest webinar in our series focused on "How to talk with teenagers about alcohol use". Presented by Professor Steve Allsop of the National Drug Research Institute, this webinar provides practical advice that is valuable for parents, school staff and others working with teenagers, and is informed by the latest research. The webinar provides suggestions for navigating common challenges, and answers to questions submitted by parents of teenagers.

The webinar is available to watch on demand.

You can learn more about having conversations with your children about drug and alcohol use by reading our factsheets on this topic:

Positive Choices Webinar Series

Missed any of our webinars? You can access the latest research relating to drug and alcohol education and harm prevention, presented by leading experts in the field on demand, anywhere you have an internet connection. View the other webinars in our series here.

New to Positive Choices: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Portal

We are very excited to announce the launch of a culturally appropriate space on Positive Choices with information and resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In this culturally safe space you will find factsheets, videos, programs and games that are developed specifically for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and their teachers and parents.

View these new resources available on Positive Choices.

While you're visiting our new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources, check out the rest of the updates to Positive Choices! You'll see a fresh and updated design on the homepage, student landing page, teacher landing page and a new portal making it easier to find Culturally and Linguistically Diverse resources. Have a look now!

Positive Choices would like to express our sincere thanks to Way Ahead - Mental Health Association NSW for presenting us with the Mental Health Promotion and Wellbeing Award. Congratulations to all the organisations recognised in the Mental Health Matters Awards for 2017, your work is truly inspiring!

Would you like to get your community involved in prevention of drug and alcohol related harms?

In late 2017, applications will open for community groups and organisations to become a Local Drug Action Team (LDAT). The LDAT program is an initiative under the Australian Government’s four year investment to reduce the harms that drugs and alcohol are having across the country. The program seeks to identify, develop and deliver local solutions to local drug and alcohol issues.

Local Drug Action Teams will work collaboratively to prevent alcohol and other drug harms in their community. With support and resources from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF), the LDATs will deliver evidence-informed social change activities that strengthen protective factors to minimise AOD harms in their community.

Over the next 3 years, it is hoped that up to 220 LDATs will be established across the country. LDATs might include partnerships between local government, local community groups, local traders/business associations, police, schools, and local not-for-profit organisations. All LDATs will be supported to develop a Community Action Plan and will be eligible to access funding of up to $40,000 per annum to put these plans into action.

More information about the Local Drug Action Team program can be accessed here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Listen to the Positive Choices team present, or catch up with us at our booth/display, at these upcoming events.

The Positive Choices newsletter is sent out once every term, and contains updates and information relating to the Positive Choices website. Recently published newsletters will take 48 hours to be listed on this page.