Daily HealthBeat Tip - May 21, 2008

Start talking

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

People have been getting together to talk about how to keep kids from drinking alcohol. The U.S. Surgeon General, HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – SAMHSA – and others have been holding town halls on ways to stop underage drinking.

Underage drinking is illegal and dangerous. Kids who start drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to have problems with alcohol as adults than those who wait to drink until they’re 21.  

SAMHSA’s Steve Wing says adults can help by giving teens alcohol-free places to have fun.  He also says parents can help by talking with kids:

``If you talk with them about it before they’re teenagers, then talking with them again about it later on, and being clear what the family values are around this issue, will all contribute to a good outcome.’’ (10 seconds)

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May, 20 2008