drugs/substance abuse
The Enablers
Some parents unintentionally enable their teen’s risk-taking behaviors, which may include the use of alcohol and other drugs. Enabling protects the child
from experiencing the consequences, and though most enabling is done out of care and love with the sincere belief that help and protection will solve the
problem, it only makes the problem worse.
Some Enabling Behaviors
• Rescuing the child from trouble at school, on the job, with the law, or
trouble with the other parent
• Taking on responsibilities that actually belong to the teen
• Keeping “peace at any price” in the belief that “good” marriages/
families are free of conflict
• Failing to identify or express feelings (this is called “stuffing”)
• Protecting the image of the user and the family
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Minimizing the problem (“He/she doesn’t drink/use that much or
that often.”)
Bargaining with the drinker/user (“You can drink as long as it’s in
our home or you don’t drive.”)
Blaming, lecturing, arguing, etc.
Waiting, enduring (“It’s just a phase, it will pass.”)
Denying the possibility of any chemical use or dependency
Illinois Underage Drinking Laws
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It is illegal for anyone under age 21 to purchase, consume, or possess alcoholic beverages.
It is illegal for a person who is under age 21 to possess or transport alcoholic beverages in a car, unless it is in the course of the person’s
employment. A conviction for this, a petty offense, carries a possible fine of $1,000, a one-year suspension of driving privileges, and up to 6 months
probation.
Passengers in vehicles where open alcohol is being carried are subject to the same penalties as the driver.
It is illegal, a class A misdemeanor or a class 4 felony, to use a fake ID to buy alcohol.
Adult Liability
• A person who knowingly gives, sells, or furnishes alcoholic beverages to a person who is under age 21 is guilty of a class A misdemeanor and is
subject to a fine of up to $2,500 or imprisonment for up to 12 months.
• A person (parent or [