Send a strong message about substance abuse
Here are some facts all parents should know: Kids who begin drinking before age 15 are six times more likely to develop alcohol dependence during their lifetimes than those who start after age 21. The median age for first alcohol abuse among teens is 14, and the most commonly abused drugs among 12- to 13-year-olds are alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and prescription medicines. It's also true that kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs and alcohol from their parents from elementary school on are 50 percent less likely to use them.