We would like to believe that we already have the "facts" and experience necessary to teach our kids about alcohol, but even adults have been known to carry some untruths regarding alcohol. Know the facts .... what a "depressant" is, how alcohol is metabolized, its immediate and long term effects. Helping your kids know the facts, as opposed to the myths, will enable them to make informed decisions about alcohol.

The following are some common expectancies adolescents have regarding alcohol, as well as some factual comebacks.

"Alcohol improves my mood, alters my mental state." Though it is true that small amounts of alcohol reduce "self-focused attention", and that this effect, in turn, can reduce stress in some people, heavy drinking typically leads to unpredictable and uncontrollable emotions. If someone is very angry and drinks to relax, a more likely outcome will be increased anger--and all of the undesirable behaviors which typically follow.

"Alcohol makes me perform better." Though you may feel like you are performing better, as alcohol relaxes, heavy drinking has a detrimental effect on judgment, coordination and reaction time. Any amount of alcohol in your blood leads to impairment in driving. Alcohol, due to the relaxing effects and the direct effects on self-monitoring, can lead to false confidence which can have deadly consequences if unchecked.

"Alcohol feels great!" The short-term effects of alcohol are often remembered at the expense of long-term effects. The short-term effects are usually pleasurable, the long-term effects negative. It is helpful for adolescents to learn how to bring these potential negative effects to mind when deciding whether to drink or not. They include: hangovers, interference with restorative sleep, foolish and or dangerous behavior, legal trouble, potentially deadly outcomes if driving occurs, impulsive sexual behaviour, long term health problems.

"Alcohol helps me socialize better." By way of its effects on reducing self-focused attention, many feel less uncomfortable around people when drinking. Unfortunately, this effect is brief and decreases if more than a small amount of alcohol is consumed. The social effects which then emerge vary from person to person, but include: obnoxiousness, aggressiveness, withdrawal, impulsiveness.

"If I drink coffee or eat something it will sober me up." Once alcohol is in your bloodstream, there is nothing you can eat or drink to hasten metabolism. Certain other chemicals, like caffeine, can "open your eyes," but you are just as impaired.

Canadian Quotes of The Day ... and more [on the lighter side]

Health Canada allows Adderall XR back on the Canadian market ~ OTTAWA - Health Canada will allow Shire BioChem Inc., the manufacturer of Adderall XRr, to resume sales of the drug on the Canadian market following the recommendation of an independent and external committee appointed under the Food and Drugs Act.

The committee, known as a New Drug Committee (NDC), reviewed the suspension of the sale of Adderall XRr , a drug used for the management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The suspension took place on February 9, 2005 due to safety information concerning possible sudden deaths, heart-related deaths, and strokes in children and adults taking regular recommended doses of Adderallr and Adderall XRr. [read on]

Smoking Rates in Canada at Lowest Ever ~ OTTAWA - The Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey results (CTUMS) released today show that smoking rates are now at their lowest in Canadian history. The data was collected between February and December 2004. [read on]

Edition No. 30
Insight EFAP International