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Alcohol-Parent's Guide
HOME INDEX Page
INDEX Page www.KidsHealth.org
Tools For Viewing
10 The Most Commonly Asked
Questions "Not my kid. He'd never drink." If that's what you're thinking, you might be in for a
Clinical Trials & Research surprise. Children see drinking around them all the time, and it's not unusual for them to
experiment with alcohol themselves. The question is, what can parents do about it?
Huntington's Disease~WeMove Info
Advocacy/Donations/Press Info "It's very commonplace for kids to have a drink," says Mandell Much, PhD. "Experimental
Clinical Definition & Search use is very popular, especially with adolescents."
Facing HD~Family Handbook
JHD Handbook-Chapter 1 Although experimentation with alcohol may be common among kids, it's not safe or legal.
JHD Info-Stanford Univ. Read on to find out how to tell if your child is drinking and what you can do about it.
Physician's Guide To HD
Kids and Alcohol Don't Mix
Caring for People with HD Alcohol interferes with our perception of reality and our ability to make good decisions.
Physical & Occupational Therapy In This is problematic for adults, and even worse for adolescents and children who have less
HD problem-solving and decision-making experience.
Understanding Behaviour in HD-Dr.
Jane Paulsen According to the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, the short-term
Understanding Behavioral-Dr. effects of drinking include:
Edmond Chiu
Advanced Stages Caregivers distorted vision, hearing, and coordination
Handbook altered perceptions and emotions
First Shift-Certified Nursing impaired judgment
Assistants bad breath
Activities of Daily Living-HD hangovers
Unified HD Rating Scale (UHDRS)
Motor Section The long-term effects include:
Westphal Variant
SECTION 1 - AT RISK cirrhosis and cancer of the liver
loss of appetite
Age & Probability Chart
serious vitamin deficiencies
At Risk For HD-What Next?
stomach ailments
At-Risk Checklist
heart and central nervous system damage
Best Interest of Child?
memory loss
Crystal Ball?
an increased risk of impotence
Food For Thought
Parent Hasn't Tested? The possibility of overdosing on alcohol is significant, says Paco Cummings, MHS, CCDC,
Q&A On Risk of Inheriting JHD CCS, an addictions specialist. Alcohol first sedates the mind, he explains, and then
Testing Children attacks the vital functions. Even withdrawing from alcohol use can be deadly. "The actual
withdrawal from alcohol is more dangerous than the withdrawal from heroin," Cummings
SECTION 2 - GENETIC TESTING
says.
Genetic Disorders & Birth Defects
Genetic Testing for HD The short-term effects of alcohol abuse can also lead to homicides, suicides, and serious
Genetic Counseling-In General injuries. Over 38% of drownings, for example, are alcohol-related. Drinking also lowers
Psychological Impact inhibitions, which can lead teens to practice risky behaviors. Some risky behaviors, such
Intro: Genetics/Genetic Testing as practicing unsafe sex, increase the chance of contracting sexually transmitted
diseases. Other risky behaviors practiced while drinking, such as drunk driving or drug
Prenatal & Preimplanation
use, put teens at risk for immediate and possibly deadly consequences.
Prenatal Testing-In General
o Genetic Testing Resources
o Personal Stories Recognizing the Signs
SECTION 3 - JHD Despite your efforts, your child may still use - and abuse - alcohol. How can you tell? The
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) offers these warning signs:
Coping With The Early Years
Age of HD Appearance the odor of alcohol
Age of Onset-Historical sudden change in mood or attitude
Family-HD Underestimated change in attendance or performance at school
loss of interest in school, sports, or other activities
Children of Parents With HD
discipline problems at school
Child~Parent Ill withdrawal from family and friends
Clinical Description JHD secrecy
HD - What Kids Are Saying association with a new group of friends and reluctance to introduce them to you
HD & Me
Any of the above signs could indicate a problem with alcohol.
JHD-Duration of Illness Girl drinking
Obviously, being caught possessing alcohol or being under the
JHD-Clinical and Research influence of alcohol is a "glaring red flags," Dr. Much says. Further,
JHD Symptoms alcohol disappearing from your home may indicate that your child is
Parenting With HD involved with drinking. Some warning signs may indicate problems
Patients/Families Coping other than drinking, such as depression, developmental difficulties,
eating disorders, or adolescent adjustment problems. It is important
Talking With Children About HD
not to jump to conclusions based on only one or two signs.
Girl drinking