Alcohol is the most common drug used by youth in the United States. Alcohol abuse by adolescents can result in early addiction, various health problems and even death. Parents, schools and government agencies are exploring various ways to successfully decrease alcohol consumption by underage youth in order to lessen the risks of dependency and avoid adolescent deaths and accidents.
Who Is Drinking?
According to self-reports gathered in 2007 by the Center for Disease Control, approximately 13,344,000 American adolescents in grades nine through 12 consume alcohol each year. According to the same reports, 75 percent of high school seniors have consumed at least one alcoholic beverage in their lifetime. One-third of those students had their first drink before the age of 13.
What Are Possible Health Effects Due to Alcohol Consumption During Adolescence?
According to a study done on adolescent rats by Aaron M. White, a researcher at Duke University, the consumption of alcohol negatively affects the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is functional in memory formation. The study shows alcohol consumption can result in impaired ability to store and recollect certain memories, such as facts, names and events. A study done by the Pittsburgh Adolescent Alcohol Research Center showed increased levels of liver enzymes in adolescents who consumed alcohol, as well as minor liver damage.
How Many Adolescents Die in Alcohol-related Deaths Each Year?
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, an average of 5,000 youth under the legal drinking age of 21 die each year due to alcohol consumption and related accidents. They estimate around 1,900 of the deaths each year are a result of drinking and driving, 1,600 are homicides, 300 are suicides and hundreds more are the result of fatal falls, burns and drownings.
What Can Schools Do to Prevent Underage Alcohol Consumption?
The most effective way for a school to have a positive impact on the level of underage drinking is their alcohol policy. This includes alcohol-free school grounds and events. The school should have strong consequences for anyone that breaks the policy and they should be presented to students prior to a violation. The school should have a confidential support system for anyone that wants help with alcohol-related issues. They should also be conscious of implementing suspension or expulsion as a penalty, as it can result in the student abusing alcohol while serving their punishment.
What Can Parents Do to Prevent Their Children From Consuming Alcohol?
The most effective way to keep your children alcohol-free is through your relationship with them. It is important to keep open communication between you and your children. Talk to them and make it clear they can talk to you about what is happening in their lives and at school. Show them love and appreciation. Although adolescents may cease to show it, they still need your love and support. Set rules and boundaries. Make your expectations of them clear and discuss punishments for certain behavior before they do something you don't approve of. Most importantly, respect them and their privacy. Allow them to explore their growing independence and see that you trust them.
References
- Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center: Underage Drinking Costs
- APS Observer: Adolescents and Alcohol Abuse: New Knowledge, New Challenges
- Health problems in adolescents with alcohol use disorders: self-report, liver injury, and physical examination findings and correlates
- Keep Kids Alcohol Free: Strategies for Action
- Make A Difference: Talk to your child about Alcohol
