Free digital content encourages conversations about mental health to prevent underage drinking during back-to-school season
Washington, D.C. — As part of its ongoing mission to eliminate underage drinking, Responsibility.org is launching a new unit, “The Impact of Alcohol and Marijuana on Mental Health,” in the award winning, science- and evidence-based Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix program. The new resources for parents and educators were developed in collaboration with a select group of experts in the field of adolescent mental health to empower kids to choose healthy ways to manage their mental health as an alternative to engaging in underage drinking and underage cannabis use.
Since its inception in 2003, Ask, Listen, Learn has reached more than 191 million kids, parents, and educators across all 50 states. Responsibility.org continues to maximize their impact by working with partners including Discovery Education, Classroom Champions, and SHAPE America. Along with other efforts, this program has contributed to historically low levels of underage drinking – 67% of teens now report they have never consumed alcohol (Monitoring the Future, 2024).
“Kids are under a lot of pressure and are hard-wired to take risks. This can take a toll on their mental health and the decisions they make,” said Executive Director of Responsibility.org Leslie Kimball. “These new resources from Ask, Listen, Learn are designed to support kids’ mental health and empower parents and educators to start and continue conversations that can prevent underage drinking before it starts.”
According to The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), using alcohol and drugs early in life is the greatest risk factor for developing a substance use disorder later (or adulthood). By helping kids understand how underage drinking and underage cannabis use impact their developing brains and their mental health, these resources encourage healthy coping strategies and decision-making skills that reinforce the fact that underage drinking and underage cannabis use are dangerous. Parent-focused materials include conversation strategies, tips for modeling responsible behaviors, ways to identify signs of a mental health challenge, and actions to take to keep kids safe.
During a pilot test of classroom materials, which included a short video, a turnkey lesson plan, and activities to extend student-learning, educators shared enthusiastic feedback, including one sixth grade educator who noted, “It is so easy to use, and the scholars were fully engaged in the meaningful discussion.”
Content is aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the 2024 National Health Education Standard (NHES), allowing it to be used flexibly throughout the country in multiple learning scenarios. All materials are free and ready to download on AskListenLearn.org.
