Even with the best parents in the world, young people can still get into trouble. Most teenagers will experiment with alcohol and getting it wrong is not uncommon. While some young people may periodically drink heavily, most get through it OK!
What if your teenager:
Remember:
If you are unable to wake them, dial 111 for an ambulance immediately.
If you are unable to wake them, dial 111 for an ambulance immediately (dial the appropriate emergency number in other countries).
If your teen does get very drunk, is unconscious or vomiting continuously, don't leave them alone. Put them on their side in the recovery position, make sure they are breathing and their mouth is empty. Keep them warm.
If you are concerned that your teen has a drinking problem, seek out professional help and advice. The Alcohol Drug Helpline is a great place to start and is free to phone between 10am and 10pm daily on 0800 787 797.
The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation are very grateful to Northland District Health Board (NDHB) for permission to reproduce this content from the Whānau pack: Tools for families and parents with teenagers [2].
Copyright
NDHB own the copyright in this material and it must not be copied or reproduced except as expressly permitted by NDHB.
This page last reviewed 13 March 2024.
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Links
[1] https://kidshealth.org.nz/tags/parenting-teens
[2] https://www.northlanddhb.org.nz/your-health/health-resources/whanau-pack/
[3] https://kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fkidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F1850%3Flanguage%3Dmi