Family Dinners and Drug Prevention

What’s the Connection?

In my Feb. 5, 2010 podcast, Teen Intensive Outpatient Program leader Baxter Hogue spoke about teen drug abuse and some possible warning signs for parents to look for when concerned their child may have a substance abuse problem.

Mr. Hogue mentions one very good indicator a teen maybe abusing drugs and/or alcohol is a behavioral pattern of avoiding parents and family members, as well as disinterest or disengagement from family activities.

Dinners and routine activities that facilitate communication and quality time with your children are a great way to keep them positively engaged in the family unit.

The Study

Teenagers who frequently eat dinner with their families are less likely to drink, smoke, and use drugs according to a 2009 study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance abuse as Columbia University (CASA) and titled The Importance of Family Dinners.

Findings

The study compared teens that have frequent family dinners (five times or more per week) to those who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three times per week).

• The study found that teens having infrequent dinner are:

• Twice as likely to use tobacco or marijuana

• One and a half times likelier to use alcohol

• Twice as likely to use drugs in the future

Why dinner time?

According to CASA Vice President Elizabeth Planet, “Having dinner is one of the easiest ways to create routine opportunities for parental engagement and communication, two keys to raising drug free children.”

Is eating enough?

The study also found that compared to teens having frequent dinner without distractions (talking and texting on cell phones and/or playing video games) teens having infrequent dinners with distractions at the dinner table are:

• Three times likelier to use tobacco and marijuana

• Two and a half times likelier

Mr. Hogue, of Imagine Behavioral Health in Jackson, Miss. agrees the study’s findings; “The majority of teens in our [substance abuse] program do not have a structured family or home environment.  We work the clients and their families to improve their family dynamic, and an important part of the process is setting aside time where they can communicate without answering cell phones or watching television.  Family dinners are a great way to make that time.”

How can I have frequent family dinners?

Setting a family dinner routine can be fun, as well as, a great way to involve everyone in the cooking process.  Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Keep everyone on schedule by establishing a regular, but flexible dinner time

• Let each family member pick one meal for the weekly menu

• Make it a team effort by letting everyone take turns cooking, sitting the table, and cleaning

The full report can be found in my shared files on the right side of my blog, or download it directly from the CASA website here.