Talk. They Hear You.
Through the Sober Truth on Underage Drinking Act, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) created the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign to address the problem of underage drinking and substance misuse.
The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign’s goal is to provide parents and caregivers with the resources they need to address the issue of alcohol and other drugs with children under the age of 21. The campaign has historically equipped parents with the knowledge and skills to increase actions that reduce and prevent underage drinking. Recently, it has expanded its messaging to include other substances such as marijuana and prescription drugs. The campaign now offers resources to help parents talk to children of all ages about alcohol and other drugs.
The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign aims to accomplish the following:
Increase parents’ awareness of the prevalence and risk of underage drinking and substance use;
Equip parents with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to prevent underage drinking and substance use; and
- Increase parents’ actions to prevent underage drinking and substance use.
Identifying the Problem
High rates of youth alcohol use, shifting state laws regarding marijuana, and the nation’s opioid crisis are prevalent health concerns that affect America’s parents and caregivers. Preventing underage alcohol and substance use is critical for the following reasons:
Approximately 88,000 Americans die from alcohol-attributed causes each year, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
An estimated 2.1 million people ages 12 or older had an opioid use disorder, and nearly 30 percent of those who use marijuana may have some degree of marijuana use disorder.
Rates of underage drinking and substance use in the United States are high. (See the latest statistics.) Underage drinking and other drug use can have severe consequences for children under 21, including the following:
- Injury or death from accidents;
- Poor school performance; and/or
- Poor judgment and decision-making.
- Alcohol and other drugs can also harm child brain development.
To learn more about youth alcohol use specific to Oklahoma, you can visit the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment page. The OPNA survey focuses on health risk behaviors such as violence and alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use that can result in injury and/or impede positive development among our youth.
What can you do to help?
Parents have a significant influence in their children’s decision to experiment with alcohol and other drugs. Although it may not seem like it, when parents talk about underage drinking and substance use, their children do hear them.
“Talk. They Hear You.” originally focused on helping parents with children ages 9–15 to prevent young people from starting to drink. However, research suggests the chances that children will try alcohol or other drugs increases as they get older. Around age 9, children begin thinking alcohol may not be just for adults. By the time they are seniors, almost 70 percent of high school students will have tried alcohol, half will have taken an illegal drug, and more than 20 percent will have used a prescription drug for a nonmedical purpose.
Resources for Parents
Alcohol: What Parents Need to Know
After High School: Talking With Your Young Adult About Underage Drinking
The Importance of Prolonging the First Drink
Underage Drinking: Myths VS Facts
Take Action to Prevent Underage Alcohol Use
Alcohol is Still a Drug
