Teen Alcohol Abuse
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According to U.S. demographic statistics, teen alcohol abuse
is starting at earlier ages AND increasing. This is an interesting fact, but does it mean that adolescent alcohol abuse and teenage
alcoholism are serious problems? To help answer this question, consider the following statistic: in 1998, American alcoholism
and alcohol abuse researchers conducted a study to determine the total cost attributable to the consequences of underage drinking. The cost was more than $58 billion per year.
This dollar amount is so large that it is essentially incomprehensible. The bottom line: the cost associated with
the negative effects of underage drinking and adolescent alcohol abuse is equivalent to the total worth of 58,000 millionaires! Once this
huge number is comprehended, it becomes very clear that alcohol side effects such as adolescent alcohol abuse and teenage alcohol dependency are
major problems in the U.S.
Teen Alcohol Abuse Research By The National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism
Research studies demonstrate that teen alcohol abuse starts at a very early
age. More precisely, the average age when teenagers first try alcohol is 13 years old for girls and 11 years old for boys.
The average age at which Americans begin
drinking regularly, according to these studies is 15.9 years old.
According to a research study undertaken by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), teens who begin
drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to suffer from dangerous alcohol side effects like dependency on alcohol than those who begin drinking at 21 years of age or older.
In fact, according to Joseph A. Califano, Chairman and President of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at
Columbia University, "a child who reaches age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol or using drugs is virtually certain never to do so."
Are the above underage drinking and teenage alcohol abuse statistics important? Consider this: in 1998, United
States alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse researchers embarked upon a study to ascertain the total cost associated with to the negative
consequences of underage drinking. The cost was more than $58 billion per year!
A Study Conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services
In a 1996 report done by the Department of Health and Human Services, the following was discovered:
- Most teens don't know the strengths of different alcoholic drinks. For instance, the alcohol content is different in wine, beer,
wine coolers, and whiskey. And to complicate matters, each form of alcoholic beverage can contain different amounts of alcohol.
For example, some beer has a low percentage of alcohol while others have two or three times the alcoholic content.
- 33% of the teens surveyed did not understand the risky alcohol side effects that are linked to alcohol intoxication.
- 80% of teens do not know that a shot of whiskey has the same amount of alcohol as a 12-ounce can or bottle of beer.
| Teenage Alcohol Abuse Statistics. Why in the world are teenagers and pre-teens drinking in the first place and
drinking excessively in the second? Where are the drinkers' parents? Aren't some of these adolescent alcohol abusers
"caught" while attending school? |
What Makes Up One Drink?
As a result of the study performed by the
Department of Health and Human Services in 1996, it seems important to point out that one drink is defined as containing one-half of an
ounce of pure ethyl alcohol. Based on this fact, each of the following is considered to be one drink:
| Due to the fact that many teenagers abuse alcohol and experience hangovers, they need to hear about the
hangover "cures" that are based on fact, rather than on rumor and on creative ways to justify repeated abusive
drinking. |
Social Aspects of Teen Alcohol Abuse
Research has revealed that teenage drinking is mainly a social activity. In fact, teens rarely drink alone. Stated differently,
the more teens drink, the more likely their drinking will be with other teens. And the more teenagers drink the more likely they will
experience destructive alcohol side effects that are related to adolescent alcohol abuse and/or teenage alcohol addiction. There are,
however, many other reasons besides peer influence that lead to teen drinking.
| Obviously, the message about the damaging alcohol side effects of excessive drinking, including abusive beer
drinking, needs to be presented to teenagers in a relevant and "user friendly" manner that will make a positive impact on their
drinking behavior. |
Indeed, the social environment and media influences may also play a key role in a teen's decision to drink. These external factors, on
the other hand, do not explain the whole picture.

That is, according to alcohol and drug addiction experts, various personality traits have been identified that can lead to alcohol abuse by
teens. For instance, teens who have personalities that can be described as under-controlled, sensation or thrill seeking, or impulsive are
considered at risk for alcohol abuse.
| When discussing teenage alcohol abuse, many people are apparently unaware of various resources that have been
developed especially for adolescents who engage in alcohol abuse or who are alcohol dependent. One of these resources is
Alateen. |
Psychological Aspects of Adolescent Alcohol Abuse
Other teens who openly reject authority figures or who can't wait to grow up often drink excessively. Not only this, but emotional
problems can also lead to drug and alcohol use. In fact, a study done in the mid-1990s revealed that two-thirds of the teens surveyed
stated that they use drugs and alcohol to help them forget their problems.
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Rather than hearing about the dangers and horror stories of alcohol abuse and alcoholism from adults, teenagers who are
alcoholics or alcohol abusers are more likely to listen to other teenagers who have the same or similar problems. Whatever
"works" to help reduce adolescent alcohol abuse and alcoholism is the important issue.
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One of the main psychological problems faced by teens that can lead to drinking is the dysfunctional nature of their family lifestyle.
Teens with parents who face financial or relationship problems may start drinking for comfort. Not only this, but if one or both of the
teens' parents are alcoholic, according to one study, teens may be up to seven times more likely to experience alcohol side effects such as
alcohol dependency when compared with teens who have nonalcoholic parents.
Teen Alcohol Abuse: Conclusion
As outlined above, research studies have demonstrated that teenage alcohol abuse is not only increasing but that it is starting
at earlier ages. Perhaps the main point of emphasis concerning underage drinking and adolescent alcohol abuse is the following statistic
from the NIAAA: teens who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to experience destructive alcohol side effects such as
alcohol addiction than those who begin drinking at the legal age of 21.
Equipped with this information, political leaders, educators, community leaders, and parents need to educate our young people on
the short-term and the long-term dangers of alcohol abuse and alcoholism BEFORE they become adolescent alcohol abusers and needlessly suffer from
the risky alcohol side effects that are associated with excessive and abusive drinking.
Please see Alcohol Abuse and Teenage Statistics for more information
about alcohol abuse among teenagers.

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| When discussing teenage alcohol abuse, it is obvious that many teenagers are aware of the dangers of drinking
while driving. For whatever reason, however, many adolescents pay little or no attention to these dangers. To make
things even worse, research shows that many teenagers apparently do not realize the risks involved in driving while under the
influence of illicit drugs such as marijuana. |
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