At the Batting Cages or at the Ballpark, Parents Can Score Another Time To Talk

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLB-PA) have introduced a new online campaign, Healthy Competition, offering parents and caregivers unique insight from Major League Baseball players on raising young athletes. Coupled with the Partnership’s prevention tools and resources at TimeToTalk.org, Healthy Competition gives parents pro-active guidance on raising a well-balanced and drug-free athlete. Check out video featuring Major League Baseball players and dads Torii Hunter, Jamie Moyer, Mike Sweeney, Mark Teixeira and Mike Young, and strength and conditioning trainer, Tim Maxey, as they share advice on exercise, good nutrition and fitness and their perspectives on what families can do to deal with life’s challenges and pressures.

A national new study of 11^th and 12^th grade students confirmed that teens don't recognize the dangers of driving on prom and graduation night, even though they think their peers may be more likely to drink on these occasions. Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21, die as a result of underage drinking: 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, as well as hundreds from other injuries such as falls, burns and drowning.

Here's What You Can Do to Help Keep Prom Goers and New Graduates Safe:

• Know Your Teens' Plans and tell them to update you if the itinerary changes so you're aware of their whereabouts.
  
  
• Check In With Them Via Text – they are more likely to reply, since it's discreet. You can send messages like "Hope ur having a gr8 time!" or "U OK?" before and after the dance.
  
  
• Trust Your Teens and resist the urge to hover. You've filled them in on the rules and the risks – chances are they got the message.

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