RISKY BUSINESS
Why Adolescents Love Risk-Taking and how we can help
Do you wonder how to interact with your middle/high school aged child to support their academic success, build healthy coping skills, and reduce the chance they’ll engage in risky behaviors?
Join nationally renowned speaker Michael Nerney for this thought provoking and entertaining presentation!
Music blaring, 110 mph on the highway, open containers, four teens in the car…why do adolescents find drinking alcohol and engaging in high-risk behaviors so attractive? Recent research on the adolescent brain clearly demonstrates that adolescents perceive and process risk assessment in ways that are remarkably unlike adults. Changes in receptor site numbers and sensitivity, neurotransmitter action, and social-emotional responses all combine to influence how teens evaluate risk. In this program, Mr. Nerney will offer new ways to think about and talk about adolescent risk reduction, including access to structured risk taking, and the use of “gist” language. These concepts can be applied across the spectrum of adolescent risky behaviors, including drug and alcohol use, sexual activity, and others.
About Michael Nerney
- He is a consultant in Substance Abuse Prevention and Education with over 32 years’ experience in the field.
- As the former Director of the Training Institute of Narcotic and Drug Research, Inc., his responsibilities included the management of a statewide training system which delivered more than 450 training programs to substance abuse treatment and prevention professionals annually.
- His particular areas of expertise include Psycho-pharmacology, Adolescent Chemical Dependency, Relapse Prevention, Gender Differences in Communication, and Managing Violent Incidents.
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!
EVENT: RISKY BUSINESS - Why Adolescents Love Risky Behavior and How we Can Help them Manage It
WHEN: Wednesday, May 11th
TIME: 7-9PM
WHERE: Sawyers Banquet Facility, 180 Plaistow Rd, Plaistow
AUDIENCE: This event is open to all parents, teachers and anyone who works with children.
If you want answers to the following questions, then you should attend this event.
1. How does youth process information and emotions, and how can you, as a caring parent/adult influence their decisions?
2. What can 15 years of research tell us about the relationship between self-‐esteem and good grades and effective parenting strategies for supporting success?
3. How does early exposure to alcohol in youth influence nutrition, sleep, stress, brain development and intellectual ability?