[Transcript]

[David Vittoria, Assistant Vice President]
The Red Ribbon campaign began in the middle 80s, 1985 by the National Family Partnership. And it is one of the biggest campaigns across the country to draw awareness to the dangers of underage drinking and drug use. And here at Baptist Health, South Florida, and at the addiction treatment and recovery center, we've enjoyed a long-standing partnership with our local affiliate of the National Family Partnership. And that has informed families.
[Love Yourself, Be Drug Free]
[Informed Families]

[David Vittoria]
So according to the National Institutes of Health, over a quarter of high school seniors have reported binge drinking, which was drinking five or more drinks within a one-hour period. We're also seeing a rise in marijuana usage and tobacco usage with middle school students.
[Chart of drug misuse warning signs]

[David Vittoria]
We suggest to parents that they have the conversations with their children about the dangers of alcohol and drug use early and often. So with elementary school students, for example, parents are often surprised to hear that, yes, you should begin the conversation as early as in elementary school. And in middle school, we suggest that parents have conversations about, for example, the rules of the house, those non-negotiable rules.
[Photo of children]

[David Vittoria]
And the main points that parents should make when they're talking with their children, first of all, the dangers. Again, the dangers even of legal substances, like tobacco and alcohol. It's important that we know, for example, we tell parents, make sure you know who your child's friends are. We even suggest to parents that when their child is going to a party, that they make sure they know the parents, even go to the house ahead of time, make sure there's no alcohol being served.

[David Vittoria]
Some of the signs and symptoms that a parent should look out for, warning signs that their child may have an alcohol or drug issue. First of all, some physical signs. Their child may be reporting more physical distress, aches and pains, headaches. Their eyes may be red and glazed over, or they may have a persistent cough. Parents should also look out for emotional signs of distress, like an increase in their irritability, an increase in depression. Looking at some of the social issues that might come up related to alcohol and drug use, their child might stop hanging out with their typical friends and begin spending time with a different peer group, people that the parents aren't familiar with. There's also signs in their academic performance at school that parents should look out for. So their grades might slip. They might be truant, skipping school, things like that.

[Warning signs poster is shown]

[David Vittoria]
When it gets to the point that the conversations that you're having with your child or family meetings that you're having to discuss what's going on are not enough to stop that destructive behavior, it might be time to reach out. Some of the treatments that are most effective for young people might be outpatient psychotherapy. It could be a more structured intensive outpatient program, like we offer here at the Addiction Treatment and Recovery Center. Oftentimes if there is a misuse of medication, for example, that's coming with physical consequences, unfortunately, a child, a teenager, young adult might have to get hospitalized to be medically stabilized.

[Treatment poster is shown]

[David Vittoria]
So if somebody needs to reach out to us and perhaps set up an evaluation for their child, their teenagers, their young adults, there's a couple of ways to go about that. First we have a 24 hour helpline, which is at 1-800-YES-HOPE that's always answered by a live person. Someone can always find out more information about our program online as well at baptisthealth.net/addictiontreatment.

[Baptist Health South Florida]

[End Transcript]