Dr. Susan Sirota
Teens enjoying sunshine, sandy beaches, pools, and a never ending party are spring break images often seen in the media. What isn’t seen are the hidden but well-documented risks associated with these vacations, including: theft, sexual assault, intoxication leading to car crashes, water-related deaths, alcohol poisoning (the sun maximizes the effect of alcohol), sexually transmitted infections, and myriad risks when interacting with strangers in unfamiliar surroundings.
As a mother, I’ve asked myself “what would I do if this happened to my child?” Fortunately, these are not the spring break images with which my children have been raised. They learned well before starting high school their spring breaks would mean something different than it did for some of their friends.
There is no doubt my work as a pediatrician impacted this decision. For me, these safety risks are not merely cautionary – they are the reality some of my patients experienced. While many teens return safely home after a week of sober fun, others use intoxicating substances and risk coming home harmed.
As a founding member of Stand Strong Coalition, I educate parents and community members about the risks of addictive substances to teens. Here are some important facts:
- Using alcohol, nicotine or marijuana while the brain is still developing (well into the mid-twenties) increases the risk of addiction 3 – 5 times.
- The risk of addiction doubles in a teen with a family history of addiction.
- From our children’s perspective, what we permit as parents is what we promote.
- “Everyone does it” is NOT accurate. 76% of DHS & HPHS students choose not to use marijuana and 68% choose not to drink alcohol.*
Consider reimagining what spring break can be. Taking a break from school or remote work can improve mental health, heart health and overall wellness, reduce anxiety and depression, and strengthen relationships. For my family, a break is defined by time together having fun, relaxing and recharging–whether at home or away from home. It can be as simple as enjoying an outdoor activity and some family movie nights.
Susan Sirota, MD, FAAP
Assistant Professor Clinical Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chair, PediaTrust, LLC, Pediatric Partners
*2018 Illinois Youth Survey of 2,793 DHS & HPHS students
