Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) continues to lead the charge against underage drinking and impaired driving with its 2024 Power of Parents campaign. The centrepiece of this initiative is the “Power of Parents Handbook,” developed in collaboration with Dr Robert Turrisi from Penn State’s Prevention Research Center. This evidence-based resource equips parents and guardians with strategies to have impactful conversations with their teens about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. Research by Turrisi and his team, funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, has shown that teens whose parents use the handbook are less likely to accept rides from impaired drivers and are more cautious about impaired driving themselves.
MADD CEO Stacey D. Stewart emphasized the critical role of parental influence in preventing underage drinking, noting that teens are significantly impacted by their parents’ attitudes and guidance. Supported by Nationwide Insurance, the Power of Parents program provides free handbooks to parents of middle and high school students, which are available for download from the MADD website. This campaign is particularly timely as it coincides with prom, graduation, and the start of summer, times when underage drinking incidents typically spike. Through community and online events, MADD aims to provide parents with the tools they need to keep their children safe during these high-risk periods.
Find more from MADD (USA, 2024)
Alcohol Awareness 