With exam results due in the coming weeks, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging parents and guardians to speak to young people now about the dangers associated with alcohol and drugs.

Thousands of teenagers across Northern Ireland will soon get their A-level and GCSE grades. While many will celebrate, others may face disappointment, and emotions can run high. Results nights often see increased drinking and some drug use, the agency warns.

The PHA is encouraging families to offer support and have open, honest discussions ahead of results day so teenagers understand the risks and feel able to make informed decisions.

Stephanie Hanlon, Regional Lead for Substance Use at the PHA, said: "Parents and guardians can make the first move and talk openly and honestly about the dangers of drinking and encourage young people to have fun with friends without alcohol or drugs. Every young person will respond differently but by starting the conversation early, parents can help young people feel supported. Don't wait until there is a problem before deciding to talk.

"If they are likely to be drinking, encourage them to take care if they choose to do so and warn them of the dangers of mixing alcohol and other drugs. In the short term, the undesirable effects of drinking too much can include vomiting and hangovers. However, more serious risks from drinking heavily can include damage to vital organs such as damage to the liver, heart, brain and stomach, and falls or accidents that can result in injury.

"Drinking too much can also affect our judgement, leading us to do things we wouldn't otherwise do and that we might regret later. These can include unplanned sexual activity, relationship difficulties and getting into violent situations.

"Parents' and other family members' attitudes and behaviours in relation to alcohol and drugs can have a strong influence on young people, so take that step to talk about it openly. In doing so it might also make you think about whether the relationship you have with alcohol is positive or not."

Helpful tips for parents and guardians

Do:

- Start the conversation about alcohol early rather than waiting for a problem to arise.

- Listen carefully to what young people say.

- Show respect for their opinions if you expect the same in return.

- Go over the risks linked to drinking alcohol.

- Explore possible consequences of actions and help them choose wisely.

- Consider your own drinking and the impact it can have as a role model.

Don't:

- Assume they don't want to talk; silence could be taken as approval of drinking.

- Assume they already know everything. - Interrupt or be judgemental, even if you disagree.

Stephanie continued: "Some people also choose to use drugs around this time, and young people may experience peer pressure to experiment with drugs. It can be difficult when you feel under pressure in a group to say no, so it's important to talk to young people about how to manage those situations.

"We can never be sure what is in any drug. Even if we're told by someone we know that a drug is safe, there is no way of knowing how your body will react and using drugs can cause serious damage to your health and even death. Whilst it's safest not to use drugs at all, we know that some people may choose to use substances, so our priority is to help reduce the possible harm.

"The danger when taking drugs increases if you mix more than one substance. It's also easy to forget that alcohol itself is a powerful drug and mixing any other drugs with alcohol can be unpredictable and dangerous. The risk can increase further when people are in an unfamiliar setting or get detached from their friends. Small decisions like drinking water, not mixing substances and looking out for each other can make a big difference to helping us staying safe.

"Parents and guardians can play an important role in helping young people understand these risks, so that they don't choose to take drugs without realising the harm they could be exposing themselves to. it's also important to emphasise that if someone they are with has taken drugs and is feeling unwell, they need to seek medical help urgently. Young people will be worried about getting in to trouble but remind them they need to look out for their friends, stay with them and get help – it could save their lives."

Results season can also affect mental health and emotional wellbeing. Families are encouraged to look out for signs of stress and keep lines of communication open.

Stephanie said: "Not getting the grades they hoped for can result in feeling anxious or low. Disappointment is an understandable reaction. It's important not to neglect the possible impact of this stress on mental and emotional wellbeing.

"Parents and guardians are urged to look out for behaviour or feelings that could indicate that their young people are showing signs of stress and make sure to talk to each other about how we're feeling and understand the impact that these feelings can have."

Further help is available at www.MindingYourHead.info for mental health support and at www.DrugsAndAlcoholNI.info for information, advice and services related to alcohol and drug use.