In this episode of Live and Let Drive, we take a deep dive into the issue of underage drinking with guest Rebecca Neudecker from the Office of Alcohol Misuse Prevention at the New Mexico Department of Health. Underage drinking is not just about teens consuming alcohol — it’s about long-term impacts on brain development, future health risks, and a higher likelihood of alcohol misuse disorders in adulthood. Early alcohol use is linked to dangerous behaviors like drunk driving, raising the risk of fatal crashes and alcohol-related deaths.

Rebecca shares her expertise on evidence-based strategies for prevention, the role of parents and communities in curbing underage drinking, and how New Mexico is addressing this pressing issue with tailored programs and public policy efforts. From building resilience in kids to tackling the broader cultural and social factors, this episode highlights practical steps we can all take to protect the health and futures of our youth.

Links:

NM Health, Injury Prevention Program: https://www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/ibeb/ipp/#alcohol

New Mexico Youth Risk & Resilience Survey: https://youthrisk.org/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Suicide Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/pdf/preventionresource.pdf

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/talk-they-hear-you/parent-resources/what-you-can-do-prevent-your-child-drinking

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Underage Drinking Prevention Strategies: https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/underage-drinking/community-strategies.html

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/parenting-prevent-childhood-alcohol-use

CDC e-SBIRT tool in English: https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/CheckYourDrinking/index.html

CDC e-SBIRT tool in Spanish: https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/evalua-su-consumo-de-alcohol/index.html