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Is Your Child Drinking and Smoking the Summer Away?

By U.S. News & World Report

There are many reasons I love the summer. One, in particular, is having the opportunity to work with my high school and college patients during a time of year when they’re less stressed, more relaxed and often open to making needed emotional shifts that they’re too anxious and overwhelmed to focus on during the school year.

But while this more relaxed time has its benefits, there’s a downside as well: Research has consistently found that kids are much more likely to try alcohol and drugs for the first time during the summer months. For those teens and young adults already interested in alcohol, marijuana, other illegal substances or prescription drugs, the summer is an invitation to party. They have no academic obligations, and for many, the summer is spent with very little structure or adult supervision. Even for kids that hold a job or who have some form of structure, there is plenty of downtime after work and on the weekends to relax, which for a great many includes drinking alcohol or doing drugs.

[See: 4 Opioid Drugs Parents Should Have on Their Radar.]

I am learning more and more about drinking on the beach, partying at the park and smoking or vaping during sleepovers. The warm weather makes it particularly easy to partake because there is no need for an indoor space — making it far less likely that kids will be caught by adults. Boredom and peer pressure are also contributing factors to teens using alcohol or drugs. They spend much more time with their friends in the summer doing absolutely nothing. Except for the serious athletes, there are no summer sports, and most other activities are suspended.

As a parent, it can be difficult to assess whether your child is using alcohol or drugs, especially if you are at work and they are without supervision most of the day. Even if you’re home, it’s not practical to keep older kids under a parent’s watch at all times. Nevertheless, it’s important to be open to the possibility that your child is using alcohol or drugs, if you can’t imagine your child would do so. I have seen countless parents in my last 26 years of practice who have insisted that their child would never do that, and then the teens of said parents tell me all their war stories.

[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]

Regardless of your suspicions, you must do your very best to limit your child’s access to alcohol and drugs. There are a few ways to do this. Note that almost all of these strategies work throughout the school year as well:

— Keep all medications safely stowed away so that they can’t be easily accessed by your kids. Be particularly careful with anti-anxiety medications, pain killers and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medications.

— If you give your child money, keep track of how much you are giving them and how quickly they spend it. Most teens get their money for alcohol and drugs from their unknowing parents who think it’s being spent on food. Watch credit card bills, too. Sometimes kids will pay for a meal for all their friends, and then their friends will give them cash. All parents see is money spent on food. If the bill seems high, question your child.

— Give your child chores or activities to do to keep them busy throughout the week.

— Request that at least some evenings and weekends be spent with family, and schedule activities your teen will enjoy, such as going to the beach or out to dinner at a restaurant they like. Offer to bring a friend along.

— Pay attention to how late your child stays out at night. For kids under college age, you can set a reasonable curfew and be up when they get home to see if they seem sober.

— If you are suspicious, it’s within your bounds to limit sleepovers at other people’s homes.

— Pay attention to how your child’s clothing and room smell. It’s not always possible to detect drug or alcohol use this way, but sometimes it is. In addition, check pockets when you do laundry. Many parents find clues to drug use forgotten in a pocket.

— Check on your child at night before going to bed yourself. I repeatedly hear from high school and college students that they use marijuana at night, alone, before bed to just “chill out.” There are some who would argue that this is no different than having a drink to relax at night. But, until your child is 21, this is still illegal in all states in the U.S. And under no circumstances is it OK for your teen or young adult to be drinking alone in their bedroom.

[See: 12 Questions You Should Ask Your Kids at Dinner.]

The summer is a wonderful time for kids and parents to decompress and get ready for the next school year. However, this shouldn’t include letting even teens run free. A great deal of harm can come from kids drinking and using drugs regularly in the summer — and it could be the start of an addiction.

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Is Your Child Drinking and Smoking the Summer Away? originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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