College life means keg stands, shots of tequila, experimenting with drugs and nonstop partying…or does it? Often times this is what parents of college-bound kids think and worry about. The reality is, however, binge drinking and drug use are not the norm for most college students. A cause for concern is the perception of social norms relating to substance abuse by college-bound kids. The perception that “everybody is doing it” is a major influence for young people. Even if the reality is that most of their peers are not engaging in this risky behavior, if they perceive abusing drugs and binge drinking as the social norm, they are more likely to make destructive decisions.
For parents of kids heading to college it is important to recognize social norms and not scare their kids into thinking that this type of behavior is unavoidable. While educating college-bound kids about the risks associated with drugs and alcohol is a crucial part of preventing substance abuse, also sending the message that the binge drinking and drug abuse on campus is not the social norm can be even more effective. According to A Social Norms Approach to College Drinking “Initially, students will likely react with disbelief, which is what we would expect. Our goal is to get students to notice the message, think about it…” When youth begin to perceive that binge drinking or using drugs is not the norm, they will feel less pressured, will be able to make smarter decisions, and will be more likely to take advantage of all the positive aspects of college life.
Figuring out what to say or how to start the conversation can be a challenge for many parents. Check out DrugFreeAZKids.org/TalkWithYourKids for tips on getting the conversation started with your kids.
