Kids Who Have Frequent Family Dinners Less Likely To Abuse Drugs And Alcohol
New York City, NY, United States (AHN) – Having dinner with your kids at least three times a week may be the prescription to keep them away from drugs and alcohol, according to a new study.
Researchers at Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse say teens whose families have infrequent dinners together are twice as likely to have used tobacco, almost twice as likely to have used alcohol and one and a half likelier to have smoked marijuana.
Kathleen Ferrigno, the CASA’s marketing director, said in a statement that dinner time is an important time to ask children about what’s happening in their lives.
“Ask questions and really listen to their answers,” Ferrigno said.
The study also suggests that kids who have fewer family dinners are more likely to have friends who smoke, drink and get high.
The full report, “The Importance of Family Dinners IV,” was released to coincide with “Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children” which is celebrated on the fourth Monday in September.
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