Teenage drinking is one of the most dangerous social problems confronting America, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Underage drinking accounts for nearly 5,000 teenage deaths every year. Nearly 1,900 die in automobile accidents.
Significance
The average age of alcohol experimentation is about 14, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The agency says that 75 percent of 12 graders and more than 30 percent of 10th graders have tried alcohol, and a third of those kids drink as many as four to five drinks at a sitting. In addition to developing a habit, underage drinkers are more likely to engage in risky behavior, such as drug use and sexual promiscuity.
Causes
Teenagers drink for a number of reasons, ranging from emotional problems to social acceptance. Children of alcoholics are at a greater risk of developing drinking problems partly because of the parental model they follow and partly because of genetics. Children from families with a history of alcoholism are four to 10 times more likely to develop an alcohol problem than their peers, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse.
Peer relationships also contribute to underage drinking, according to the institute. Studies show that teenage girls who date older guys tend to drink more than their peers. And teens with friends who drink are more likely to drink themselves.
Effects
Teenage drinking can lead to legal and academic problems and create havoc in a family, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Grades can fall as teens lose interest in school. Accidents and traffic tickets are common among teens who drink, and they are more at risk of becoming involved in violent crimes, either as victims or a perpetrators.
Features
Alcohol is a drug that affects brain function and body development and can impair teenagers' learning and cognitive abilities. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the buzz created by alcohol comes from ethanol or ethyl alcohol, the main ingredient in beer, wine and spirits. Alcohol impairs motor skills and can ultimately lead to stroke, cancer and liver disease.
Prevention/Solution
While treatment centers, detoxification units and rehab facilities all have programs to treat teenage alcoholics, talking to teens about the ramifications of drinking can help prevent abuse, according to University of Michigan Health Services. Parents are wise to prepare themselves long before a child reaches adolescence for the possibility that she may experiment. Knowing how you will deal with that situation will help you be prepare for a call from your daughter if she has been drinking at a party or a call from the police station if she has been picked up.
