WASHINGTON – New tools to help preteens avoid underage drinking are available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The “Too Smart to Start” initiative is aimed at adolescents aged 9–13 years.
The tool kit offers classroom presentations, posters, public service announcements, and information about structuring parent/child conversations on alcohol. It can be obtained by calling SAMHSA at 800–729–6686.
“Unlike illicit drugs, where we have seen an 11% decline in use over the past 2 years among youth, and unlike tobacco use where we have seen major declines in use since the mid-1990s, the rates of underage drinking really have not changed much over the years,” SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie said at a press conference sponsored by SAMHSA.
About 11.6% of 12-year-olds report using alcohol at least once in their lifetime. That percentage more than doubles by age 13, and by age 15 more than half of teens report alcohol use, according to SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
The approaches in the program were field tested in nine cities and counties over the last 2 years.
The program is being rolled out nationally through partner groups such as the American Medical Association. The AMA and SAMHSA has sent out joint letters to county and state medical societies encouraging them to disseminate the information about the program.