SW Ontario health units offer strategies to Rethink Your Drinking

Southwestern Ontario health units offer strategies to Rethink Your Drinking

Public health units from across Southwestern Ontario are combining efforts to help parents and caregivers curb teen substance use through the Parent’s Matter campaign, an initiative of the Rethink Your Drinking collaborative.

The campaign provides parents with practical, everyday strategies known to prevent or delay teen alcohol and drug use. The six strategies in the campaign are:

• Knowing what is going on in your child’s life
• Developing open and regular communication
• Setting expectations and consequences together
• Being a positive role model
• Building a close and caring relationship
• Not providing alcohol or other drugs

The campaign is timely. “We know that parents are feeling the impact of COVID-19, but so are youth. Canadian studies have shown that youth are very concerned about the COVID-19 crisis and have been affected by social distancing from friends,” says Jessica Austin, Health Promoter at Southwestern Public Health. COVID-related stress has been linked to more depression and loneliness, especially in teens who spend more time on social media. “Fears, depression, and concerns for how social distancing may affect their reputation with peers, have led some teens to increase drinking when alone, and others to drink more through virtual or in-person meet ups with friends,” explains Austin.

Ontario data from McMaster University shows 37.5% of caregivers and parents having increased their consumption of alcohol during the pandemic, and 87.5% of those who use cannabis are using more. For adolescents, the frequency of both alcohol and cannabis use increased post-COVID-19, with 49.3% engaging in solitary use, 31.6% consuming with peers via technology, and 23.6% consuming with peers face-to-face.

Curbing substance use early is important. Drinking under the age of 25 can harm brain development and lead to issues with brain function such as memory and learning, decision-making, and problem solving. It can also lead to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, or addiction.

Parents and caregivers play an important role in modelling a strong foundation for teens to make healthy decisions for themselves. “Talking to your kids about substances can be tough, but talking regularly with them in an open, caring and non-judgmental way leads to positive discussions around their feelings when it comes to stress,” says Austin.

Rethink Your Drinking is managed by Southwestern Public Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit, Huron Perth Public Health, Grey Bruce Public Health, Lambton Public Health, and Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

For more information and tips, visit www.rethinkyourdrinking.ca/parents and follow Rethink Your Drinking on Facebook.

About Southwestern Public Health

Southwestern Public Health works with its partners to ensure the health of the whole community. Our programs respond to public health emergencies; promote healthy lifestyles; help prevent injuries, illness and disease in the community; and promote positive change and social conditions that improve health. Southwestern Public Health delivers mandated programs under the Ontario Public Health Standards and is regulated by the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act. The health unit maintains primary locations in Woodstock and St. Thomas. For more information, visit www.swpublichealth.ca.

Contacts

Natalie Rowe                                        

Communications | Southwestern Public Health                                       

519-631-9900 x 1215 | 1-800-922-0096

nrowe@swpublichealth.ca

References:

Dumas, T., Ellis, W. & Forbes, L. (2020). Physically isolated but socially connected: Psychological adjustment and stress among adolescents during the initial COVID-19 crisis. Canadian Journal of Behaviour Science.

Dumas, T., Ellis, W. & Litt, D. (2020). What Does Adolescent Substance Use Look Like During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Journal of Adolescent Health 

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Drug use among Ontario students, 1977-2019: Detailed findings from the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. (2020).

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. (2020). Summary Report: 25% of Canadians (aged 35-54) are drinking more while at home due to COVID-19 pandemic; cite lack of regular schedule, stress and boredom as main factors.

McMaster University & Offord Centre for Child Studies. (2020). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ontario Families with Children: Findings from the Initial Lockdown.