Setting an Example
Parents are powerful models for their children.
Parents who model positive alcohol (and other drug) related behaviors
greatly increase the chances that their children will not experience problems
with these substances.
Answering the following questions will help you understand how you’re
doing in this important role.
Part 1
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1.
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___ T ___ F
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Alcohol isn’t a necessary part of most or all of my social occasions.
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2.
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___ T ___ F
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My child hasn’t seen me intoxicated.
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3.
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___ T ___ F
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I don’t drink to "calm down" or when things aren't going so well.
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4.
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___ T ___ F
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I don’t ride in a car when the driver has been drinking and I don’t
drive if I have been drinking.
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5.
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___ T ___ F
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I don’t smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco.
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6.
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___ T ___ F
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I never use any illegal drugs or use prescription drugs contrary
to the physician's instructions.
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7.
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___ T ___ F
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My children know that I believe that teenage drinking is not acceptable.
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8.
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___ T ___ F
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I’ve conveyed the attitude to my children that intoxication is
dangerous and unhealthy.
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9.
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___ T ___ F
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I don’t involve my children in any alcohol or tobacco use. (Examples:
"Get me a beer from the refrigerator." or "Hand me the matches.")
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10.
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___ T ___ F
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My child doesn’t receive conflicting messages about alcohol and
drugs from myself and their other parent? (Example: Mom says: "It's
okay to drink, as long as you don't drive." and Dad says: "I expect
you not to drink until you are of legal age.")
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11.
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___ T ___ F
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I’m careful to not allow my child to wear clothing with alcohol
/drug pictures or slogans, or allow positive drug/alcohol posters
in my child's room.
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12.
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___ T ___ F
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I’m careful to screen concerts and movies that may promote alcohol
or drug abuse before allowing my child to attend.
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13.
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___ T ___ F
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My child spends little or no time with kids who use alcohol or
other drugs.
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Part 1 scoring: True = 1, False = 0
Part 2
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1.
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___ T ___ F
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I communicate with other parents to make sure my child's activities
will be properly supervised and alcohol and drug-free.
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2.
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___ T ___ F
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I talk to my child about alcohol or other drugs after they have
been exposed to pro-use messages. (Example: Beer ads on TV.)
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3.
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___ T ___ F
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I have educated myself and my children about whether our family
is in a higher-risk category (see back page) for alcohol or other
drug problems.
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4.
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___ T ___ F
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I always know where my child is, whom my child is with, and when
my child will be home.
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5.
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___ T ___ F
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My child sees me model appropriate behavior. ("No, my limit is
two per evening," or "No thanks, I'm driving," or just plain "No"
when you are offered alcohol.)
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6.
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___ T ___ F
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I have 1) established expectations of "no alcohol or other drug
use" for my children, 2) communicated these expectations clearly
and 3) set consequences for failure to meet these expectations.
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Part 2 Scoring: True = 1, False = 0
Total Score
Directions: Add scores from Parts 1 and 2 to find your total score.
If your score is 19:
Wow! Your are greatly reducing the chances of your child ever having an
alcohol or drug problem. Keep up the great work!
If your total score is 15-18:
Your child is growing up in a relatively low-risk environment, but you
may wish to make an effort to work on those areas where you answered "false."
If your total score is under 15:
WARNING: Your child is in an environment which may lead to potentially
harmful alcohol and drug involvement by your child.
What about other drugs?
Serious legal and health problems rule out any use of illegal drugs.
Health problems rule out any tobacco use, and over-the-counter and prescription
drugs should be used according to directions.
Are members of your family at higher risk for developing alcoholism?
The answer is "yes" if there is a history of alcoholism in the family,
especially if that history goes back more than one generation. Children
of the same sex as an alcoholic parent are also likely to be at a higher
risk. Finally, the greater the number of people with alcoholism in a family,
the greater the risk for children.
**Reducing your risk for alcohol problems...
"By The Numbers"
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Research tells us that, under certain circumstances, any alcohol use
can be dangerous.
ZERO alcohol is the safest choice if you are:
On certain medications or if you have illnesses (ask your doctor).
Behind the wheel or engaged in tasks that require full mental or
physical functioning.
Stressed or tired.
Either the son or daughter, or sibling of someone with alcoholism.
Recovering from alcoholism or drug dependency.
Violating policies, laws (including the legal age limit) or personal
values.
Expecting, nursing, or considering pregnancy.
If you OBSERVE these times to avoid alcohol, you can greatly reduce
the risk of experiencing an alcohol-related problem. If you aren’t in
the 0 category and choose to drink, current research suggests:
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1
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No more than one drink an hour.
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2/1
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No more than two drinks a day for men, one for women.*
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4
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No more than four days a week.
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* Recent studies indicate that women may develop alcohol-related health
problems more quickly and at lower levels of consumption than do men.
Therefore, the recommendations for alcohol use are lower for women. This
is a health issue, not an equality issue.
**Copyright: "By The Numbers" is a copyrighted program of the Nebraska
Council to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Abuse. No part of this document may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form
or by any means. For reprints, more information, or for permission to
use "By The Numbers," call 402-474-0930.
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