a parent &family guideTALKING WITH COLLEGE STUDENTSABOUT ALCOHOL & DRUGS

2019 Created by W. Marichal Gentry, Vice Presidentfor Student Life and Dean of Students at The

University of the South with generous support fromthe Coalition for Healthy and Safe Campus-

Communities (CHASCo)

Graphic design by Rachel Champagne, Director ofCommunity Standards at The University of the South

Conversational Strategies forEffective Outcomes

c

INTROFor many parents or guardians, educators, coaches,and mentors, communicating effectively with young

people about any topic has never been moredifficult. The parenting dynamic has changed, owing

to factors such as the emergence of Generation Zand the prevalent use of technology.  In oneselection, young people can find most any

information they want. Why have a conversationabout topics, like alcohol and drugs with parentswhen the answer can be found online? Because

students in this generation are described as havingemotionally close relationships with their parents;they may not always look their parents in the eye,but they listen, and they value what their parents

say.

WHY

For parents or guardians, in particular, initiating andhaving effective, ongoing conversations about

alcohol and drugs with a college-bound student canmake the difference between their making 

informed choices while they are in college. The needfor parents to prioritize developing more mindful

energy toward discussing these difficult topics withtheir student couldn’t be more important.

WHO

It’s not that the words parents or guardians need touse are not there for them to say; rather, it’s when

and how those words are communicated thatmatter the most. This guide is designed to providebasic facts and a few strategies to assist parents or

guardians with having meaningful conversationswith their college student about alcohol and drugs.

WHAT

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SOURCESThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)The U.S. Department of Agriculture (DOA)National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Hageman, W. (2014). First trip home from college: How parents, studentscope, Chicago Tribune online October 29, 2014. Retrieved from:https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sc-fam-1104-navigate-college-break-20141029-story.html Jara, S. (2015). The Off-to-College Talk Every Student Needs, Addiction.com.Retrieved from: https://www.addiction.com/12665/the off-to-college-talk/ The Office of National Drug Control Policy. Marijuana Myths and Facts: The TruthBehind 10 Popular Misperceptions. Retrieved from:https://www.ncjrs.gov/ondcppubs/publications/pdf/marijuana_myths_facts.pdf. SAMHSA. "The Talk, They Hear You" online application Shifman, J. (2012). How to Deal with a Returning College Student, Next Avenueonline June 1, 2012. Retrieved from: https://www.nextavenue.org/how-deal-returning-college-student/ Yale University. Talking about Alcohol: A Guide for Yale College Families.Retrieved from:https://aod.yalecollege.yale.edu/sites/default/files/talking_about_alcohol.pdf

TERMINOLOGYAlcohol Use Disorder: AUD is problem drinking that becomes severe, achronic relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive alcohol use,loss of control over alcohol intake and a negative emotional state whennot using (NIH)Binge drinking: pattern of drinking that brings BAC levels to 0.08 g/dL;typically after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men in the span of 2hours (NIAAA)Blood Alcohol Concentration: BAC refers to the percent of alcohol in aperson's blood stream; calculated 1 part alcohol for 1000 parts of blood(DHHS & DOA)Heavy alcohol use: binge drinking on 5 or more days in the past month(SAMHSA)Moderate drinking: up to 1 drink per day for women / 2 drinks per dayfor men (SAMHSA)

Cannabis: also known as marijuana, pot, weed, reefer, grass, dope,herb, hash, chronic, ganja, bud, nugget (NIDA)Bake break: take a break from all other activities to consume cannabisBlunt: hand-rolled cigarette used to smoke cannabis; aka jointBong: water pipe used to smoke cannabis by inhaling smokeDabbing: method of consuming cannabis that involves burning it at ahigh temperature and producing smoke that is pure THC, which isinhaled (NIDA)Dime: a quantity of cannabis that costs ten dollars; aka dime bagDub: a quantity of cannabis that costs twenty dollarsRoach: end of a joint that still contains unused cannabisShake: loose cannabis and stems that settle in the bottom of the bagSmoking: also known as toking, blowing, burning one down, torchingup, Cheeching, blazing, hitting the hay, mowing the grass, hitting(NIDA) 18

FACTS aboutcannabis

10%

26%

37%

71%

8th graders have

used in the last year

10th graders have

used in the last year

12th graders have

used in the past year

high school students don't

think daily marijuana use is

harmful

Using can increase theliklihood of psychosis by 5times the national average

5X

1 in 10 young adults are diagnosed withCannabis Use Disorder each year

1:6

1:11

&

1 in 6 16 yo and 1 in 11adults will become addicted

to cannabis this year

+50%

THC content has increased morethan 50% since the marijuana ofthe 1960s and edibles or DABscan range up to 92% potentcy

most young adults get informationon cannabis from the internet and

it is not accurate

99% of drugaddicted peoplebegan with alcoholand marijuana use(2017)

33.1%

of 15 year olds reportthey have had at leastone drink in their lives

of college students 18-22 year olds reportdrinking in the last

month

1,825

College students 18-24 year olds that diefrom alcohol-related, unintentionalinjuries - including motor-vehicleaccidents

7

5 8 %

FACTS aboutalcohol

696,000 students 18-24 yearolds are assaulted by another

student who has been drinkingcollege students report academic consequences

from drinking: missing class, falling behind, doingpoorly on assignments and lower grades

1

4

in

5.1 millionpeople 12-20year oldsreported BINGEdrinking in thepast month

1.3 million people 12-20 yoareported HEAVY drinking in thepast month

20%

of college students meetthe criteria for AUD

2

W H Ywe shoulddiscuss alcohol other drugs&

Your college student can quickly find themselves navigating freedomto take risks without you to discuss their choices. Drinking too muchor too often can have a negative impact on a student’s collegeexperience. At the same time, if one chooses to drink in moderation,it can be a fun part of the campus experience, like at a party, at ameal with friends, or at many other fun, safe events. Discussing alcohol use and setting expectations usually begins inhigh school or earlier. Families tend to have more open dialogueabout alcohol for many reasons, however, the subject of cannabisuse has become increasingly difficult to discuss—in part because ofthe mixed messages being sent by the passage of medical cannabislaws and legalization of cannabis in some states. In addition, manyparents may have used cannabis when they were younger, whichcould make it more challenging to discuss openly or set rules aboutits use (NIDA). Just remember that the cannabis of a decade ago isnot the cannabis of today with regards to THC content - it's moredangerous with greater risk for addiction and health impacts.Cannabis use can lead to learning, attention and memory problems,and mental illness that will impact the ability to persist in college. If you don't speak with your student about alcohol and drugs, theywill get the information from friends and the internet. It is dangerousto get messages on drugs from unsubstantiated sources like mediaoutlets, big cannabis companies, and drug users. Research showsthat college students are 3 times more likely to believe that: -They can't have lasting health impacts from binge drinking -Cannabis is not addictive -Misusing prescription drugs occasionally has no side effects

4

Conversationaltopics tips

&

Resist reinforcing myths about alcohol and other drugs. A common expectancy is that the more alcohol one consumes, the more funwe’ll have, or that the use of alcohol will alter our personality.

In reality, drinking alone does not lead to a more fun time. Alcohol cansuppress some inhibitions, but it does not give us new and improved skills oralter our personality. In other words, any thought, desire, or skill that youthink you gained by drinking alcohol was more than likely already there.

A common expectancy that many college students have about cannabis is thatits use will reduce their anxiety.

The truth is that for young people, in particular, cannabis increases anxiety,panic attacks, depression, withdrawal, and attention problems. Parentsshould have open and frank conversations with their student about the valueof mental health counseling and possible medication as an aid to reducinganxiety and depression, rather than drugs that have the opposite effect. 

Communicate openly with your studentGoing to college is a time when your student has greater freedom andindependence.  By the time they are ready to begin their college career, theyhave learned a lot about alcohol and drugs; though the challenges of peerpressure and the opportunities they will have to engage in harmful behaviorswill be far greater than they were when they lived under your roof. Yourstudent’s transition to college must include your willingness to listen to them asmuch or more than you talk.  Ask the difficult questions in an open-ended way,but don’t judge their responses. You might start a difficult conversation bystarting with a question like:  When you bring up a difficult topic, listen respectfully to your student’sthoughts, even if you don’t agree. Phrases you might use to the responses you’llget from your student might include: 

Family HistoryThere are many factors as to how someone reacts to alcohol. It might not seemthat important, but having a conversation with your student about your familyhistory is essential. Some families have a long history of alcohol or drug usedisorders. It’s important for your student to have this information as they makedecisions about their own alcohol or other drug use.  So you’re not planning to drink or experiment with drugsJust because your student doesn’t plan to drink or to be tempted by peerpressure to use drugs doesn’t mean that they won’t be exposed to it and haveclassmates who drink or use drugs. Having conversations with your studentwho doesn’t plan to drink will help them plan for developing relationships withroommates, classmates, and others who chose to drink.  How to engage with your college student when they come home during abreak Even in a few short months, your college student is a different person thanwhen they left. They have quickly become accustomed to a certain kind ofindependence.  If, over time, you have established an atmosphere of opencommunication and clear expectations, then finding ways to engage with yourstudent might not be all that different than before. If you haven’t, you mightconsider the following: Plan ahead; talk with your student when they first get home.

Acknowledge their new-found college independence. Consider not overscheduling your returning student; realize that theymight have planned activities and outings they’d like to do with theirfriends that don’t involve the family. Verbalize family activities that will take place during the break where theyare expected to attend.  For other activities, feel free to ask them if they’dlike to come with you, but don’t be disappointed that they may havemade other plans. Discuss your expectations about parties, alcohol, drugs, and a reasonabletime for your college student to return home at night. Know that yourstudent hasn’t had a curfew while in college, and that they often have notreturned to their residential hall or apartment before 11:00 PM, even ifthey were in the library studying. Resist blindsiding them by setting whatmight appear to them as an unreasonable curfew, as they head out thedoor. Also, don’t feel surprised when they return home at 2:00 AM.Discuss, not dictate, beforehand, your clear expectations.

What are your thoughts about...?   What are your expectations about..?What is your plan if…? 

It sounds like you’re saying...  It’s been my experience….I can see that you feel that way, and I’m trying to understand why;...In what ways have you experienced…..?

36 6

FACTS aboutprescriptiondrugs

1 in 4 18-20 year olds admit to using 2+nonmedically prescribed medicationswithin the past year

Full-time college students are twice aslikely to use stimulants for nonmedicaluse than other 18-22 year olds

By sophomore year 50% of collegestudents will have been offered an illegalprescription medication to take forpersonal use

+

90% of students who used Adderallwithout a prescription in the past yearwere also binge drinkers

#1

the #1 reason collegestudents report misusingprescribed stimulants isfor studying and focus

54% of college students who takestimulants or opioids under the care of adoctor have been asked to sell or tradetheir medication in the past year

Whether it’s the first child you're sending off tocollege or your last, it’s important to have multiplediscussions with your student that address difficulttopics and help arm them to make healthy choiceswhen they go to college.  There is no one right wayto have that initial conversation, but most expertsadvise that discussions with your student aroundalcohol and drugs should be casual and organic. Itcan take place during an activity, like a game ofbasketball, on a hike, on a fishing trip, on a bikeride or while in the kitchen cooking a meal. Create a truthful, fact-based atmosphere for yourstudent to engage in meaningful conversationswith you about alcohol and drugs. Make talkingwith your student a regular part of your day.Finding time to do things you enjoy together as afamily helps everyone stay connected and maintainopen communication. If your student doesn’t feelcomfortable speaking to you, they’ll find theiranswers elsewhere, and those answers could beunreliable. If your student is not properly informedabout alcohol and drugs, they are at a greater riskfor engaging in unsafe behaviors.

H O Wwe shoulddiscuss alcohol drugs

&

W H E Nwe shoulddiscuss alcohol drugs

&

Although the legal drinking age is 21, and cannabisis illegal in Tennessee, parents should begincommunicating their family's values around alcoholand drugs at an early age. This open dialogue setsa precedent for truthful conversations when youngpeople begin college and can minimize the risks ofalcohol and other drug use.