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WELCOME TO OUR NOVEMBER E-NEWSLETTER
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Dear *|FNAME|*,
The last school holidays for 2024 are fast approaching! Do you have a teenager completing high school and planning to attend end-of-school celebrations? Perhaps your teen is being invited to more parties and other social events now that the end-of-year break is upon us?
In this newsletter, you'll find trusted resources to help ensure your child has fun while staying safe from alcohol and other drug-related risks.
You'll also find new resources for supporting your child's mental health and wellbeing, as well as the latest research to keep you informed about alcohol and drug use among Australian young people.
If you're interested in other evidence-based resources to help you have more effective conversations about drugs and alcohol with your children, check out our "Parents & Families" page on the Positive Choices website by clicking the link below:
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TELL US HOW WE CAN IMPROVE POSITIVE CHOICES!
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Are you a parent or carer of a teenager? We need your feedback to help improve Positive Choices. Tell us what resources you find most useful, what could be improved, and what you want to see more of.
We're looking for parents of teenagers to complete an online survey about our online evidence-based Australian drug education portal, Positive Choices (positivechoices.org.au).
The survey will take between 20-30 minutes and for participating, you’ll receive a $20 Prezzee gift voucher! Your input will help us provide more relevant and trustworthy resources to better help you talk to your children about drugs and alcohol.
To access the survey, please click the link below:
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RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES
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Factsheet: Polydrug Use
Mixing drugs or taking one drug when under the influence of another drug is known as polydrug use. As the end-of-year break approaches, it's important to be aware of the potential risks of combining different drug types. Read our factsheet to learn about these effects + support conversations with your teen.
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Growing Minds Australia Parent Check-In
Do you wonder about your child's mental health and wellbeing? Growing Mind's free Check-In for Australian parents and caregivers allows you to track your child's wellbeing and access personalised support. To learn more or participate in their study of this tool, click here.
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Supporting a young person's mental health
Adolescence can be a difficult time for your child's mental health. For some teens, certain times of year can be more stressful, such as the school holiday period. Check out our latest factsheet to learn about the link between mental health & alcohol/drug use, what to look out for + strategies for supporting your teen.
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Making sure your child stays safe at parties
With school holidays starting soon, now is a good time to talk to your teenager about staying safe at parties. Read our factsheet for helpful tips for discussing this concern with your child + the hosting parents. This factsheet is also available in Arabic, Hindi and Simplified Chinese!
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RESOURCES FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITIES
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Did you know that we have drug and alcohol information available in Arrernte, Walrpiri and Torres Strait Islander Creole languages? Positive Choice shares knowledge to help parents and families talk about alcohol and other drugs with young people. We've created resources with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to help young people stay strong and safe. Click here to find resources translated in your local language.
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Based on an Australian survey of over 5,000 young people, a recent study led by researchers at The Matilda Centre has revealed a link between depression and e-cigarette use. The results highlight the need for early interventions that target both vaping & mental health issues among adolescents. Read more.
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A recent study has found that Australian adolescents who have high
externalising problems, have substance-using parents and/or who engage in heavy drinking, and receive lower parental monitoring were more likely to engage in polysubstance use than their peers.
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A new study has revealed an increase in heavy drinking (6+ drinks per one occasion) and cannabis use among Australian Year 12 students in 2020, when compared to their previous Year 11 experiences and pre-COVID Year 12 cohort in 2019. The findings suggest that these changes may be attributed to a combination of increased age and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The aim of this e-newsletter is to provide our subscribers with information about drug prevention resources, and to share relevant news and events.
Please help us spread the word by forwarding this newsletter to other parents and families within your networks, and encourage them to subscribe here.
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