Lifestyle » Connect with Kids

Depression and Drinking

Depression and Drinking

July 8, 2010 Updated Jul 8, 2010 at 4:03 PM EDT

According to a new study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 30-percent of children who go through a period of major depression, even for just a few weeks, are twice as likely to turn to alcohol as kids who've never been depressed. Dr. Yolanda Graham, a Psychiatrist, says "A lot of teenagers will describe using alcohol to fill a void inside of themselves and so it makes them feel whole." Experts say parents need to take depression seriously and get help before a child turns to alcohol. Also, parents need to be good role models. Sherry Neal-Horsey, a Project Director with the Missouri Youth Alliance adds that "If {parents} are always drinking to escape a problem, because of anger, because of a bad day...children sort of equate that to 'I've had a bad day at school, I need to go home and do something chemically, put something chemically in my body to make me feel better."

To submit a comment on this article, your email address is required. We respect your privacy and your email will not be visible to others nor will it be added to any email lists.