Dr. Rauch: "There's really some exciting research going on about brain development that is important parents know about. One of the things that we know is that the brain isn't fully done growing and developing until adolescents are 21. And in fact the part of the brain that still needs to develop is the one that's responsible for common sense and good judgment.  So that children particularly need to rely on their parents to help them think through the consequences of their actions at this age."

Words Can Work: "Many kids go to parties and say that they drink to relax, to feel more comfortable around their peers. What ideas can you give parent on how they can help their kids think through these kinds of situations, so they might be less likely to drink?" 

Dr. Rauch: "One of my favorite ideas for parents is to encourage them to ask their children to make a commitment to themselves - not to the parent but the child make a commitment to himself or herself - to go to a party and be committed not to drink anything. When they go to that party and find out what the pressures are, and then what are the challenges are on that particular night, what made it hard to choose not drink? Then they can come home and have a real conversation with their parents about what the real pressures are. What are the ways in which it feels uncomfortable? What are the difficult things about saying 'no' to a beer from a friend? Or feeling tense talking to someone that maybe they like or someone that they think they don't like?"