Young People and Alcohol

A Devastating Combination

Some people attempt to downplay the seriousness of adolescent involvement with alcohol by asserting that the behavior is little more than a harmless “rite of passage.” But even a cursory examination of statistics related to adolescents and alcohol demonstrates that the problem portends serious consequences:

• According to a study that appeared in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, almost half of all children whose first experience with alcohol comes before age 14 will develop a dependence upon the substance later in life. (For purposes of comparison, this study determined that only 9 percent of individuals who delay drinking alcohol until age 21 will develop a similar dependence.)
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have determined that excessive consumption of alcohol is responsible for more than 75,000 deaths in the United States every year – making it the third leading cause of preventable death.
• In the United States, half of all cases of trauma – and about four out of every 10 emergency room visits – involve alcohol.

The message is clear: In addition to raising a child’s likelihood of falling behind in school, lowering his self-esteem, and putting him at risk for a wide range of physical, emotional, and social setbacks, early use of alcohol also predisposes him to a lifelong struggle to overcome a devastating – and potentially deadly – dependence.
The good news (and yes, there is good news) is that early intervention can dramatically enhance the likelihood that many of these problems can be avoided.

Prevention & Intervention

Several surveys, studies, and other scientific research projects have documented the downfalls of early exposure to alcohol – and have hinted at strategies to eliminate these threats before they have the opportunity to destroy a young person’s life.

Though every case demands unique, individualized attention, certain strategies have proved effective in reducing the prevalence of early drinking among adolescents. For example, the establishment of a minimum drinking age of 21 in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia has pushed legal drinking out of the high school age group – and thus decreased the likelihood that adolescents will have friends or classmates who can legally purchase (and then illegally share) alcoholic beverages.

Also, a network of comprehensive community-based outreach efforts has been credited with reducing past-month alcohol consumption by seven percent among youth under the age of 21. 

Though alcohol remains the most abused drug – and a leading cause of death – among America’s youth, continued efforts to raise awareness and educate students, parents, teachers and others has resulted in significant progress in lowering the prevalence of underage drinking in recent years.

Sources:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
National Institute on Drug Abuse - http://www.nida.nih.gov/
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
Centers for Disease and Control http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/factsheets/general_information.htm#03