Term 1 2023 - Parents *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* View this email in your browser WELCOME TO OUR FEBRUARY E-NEWSLETTER Dear *|FNAME|*, Welcome back to Term 1 and another school year! In this newsletter, we explore the evolving relationship between young people and alcohol. We will also look at the vital role that families play in protecting teenagers against drug and alcohol use and related harms. For other up-to-date information, relevant resources and helpful parenting tips for talking to your teenager about alcohol and other drugs, check out our dedicated "Parents & Families" portal here: VISIT POSITIVE CHOICES NEW BLOG POST ON 'SOBER CURIOUS' MOVEMENT! Have you checked out our latest blog post yet? Young Australians are drinking less. Contributing to this broader decline in alcohol consumption is the 'sober curious' movement, which encourages people to question the role that alcohol plays in their life. In this blog post, we look at: Common reasons why more young people are choosing not to drink alcohol Immediate and long term health benefits of not drinking alcohol Online resources available to support 'sober curious' young people READ MORE HERE RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES Should I give my teenager alcohol? Some parents supply alcohol to their teens in the hope that it will reduce risky drinking. However, research shows the opposite is true. We dispel the myths around parental supply in this factsheet. Preventing alcohol and other drug harms among rural young people Almost one third of young Australians live in rural and remote communities. Click here for ways that parents from these communities can prevent drug use and related harms. Synthetic Cannabinoids: Factsheet Synthetic cannabinoids are drugs that are often sold as ‘legal’ alternatives to cannabis. Yet many contain ingredients that are actually illegal and potentially dangerous. Click here to learn more about their immediate & long terms effects. My teen’s vaping. What should I say? 3 expert tips on how to approach ‘the talk’ Parents – what would you say to your teen if you found out they were using an e-cigarette? Check out this article by The Conversation for three expert tips on how to talk to your child about the harms of vaping. RESOURCES FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITIES As a parent, you already know that spending time with your teenager is important to create a good relationship. It can be hard to find time to do this when life gets busy, but it’s important, as it can help protect them from problems with alcohol (also called grog) and other drugs. Check out these deadly activities that families can do together to help raise your kids strong. IN THE KNOW The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) has released new guidelines on alcohol consumption, which state that having more than two drinks a week is risky. So how do Australia's current guidelines compare? And what amount of alcohol is really safe? This ABC News article explains. What's causing the decline in alcohol consumption among adolescents? A study published in Addiction Research and Theory found that alcohol was NOT being substituted by other illicit drugs. Instead, changes in parenting practices have likely caused the decline. Read more here. ORDER YOUR FREE BOOKLETS! Are you looking for tips on how to talk to your teenager about alcohol and other drugs? Want to learn more about how you can protect your teen from drug use and related harms? Order your FREE copy of the parent booklet today. ORDER NOW 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. Copyright © 2024 Positive Choices, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. 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.