More than half of the top ten states for underage drinking are in New England, with rates highest in Vermont. Additionally, a surprising number of teens are buying their own alcohol, despite the legal ramifications. Parents and health care professionals alike are concerned about the influence of alcohol on the developing teenage body, and justifiably so. Underage drinking continues to be a public health issue as one in four Americans start drinking before the legal drinking age of twenty-one.
Public Impact
Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among teens. Approximately two thousand young Americans die every year from crashes involving underage drinking. A great number of pedestrians are also killed by teens driving under the influence. Young drinkers are more likely to binge drink than those over age twenty-one, and they are more susceptible to alcohol-induced impairment when driving.
Statistics show that the likelihood of sexual assault, including rape, is greatly increased by alcohol use in the offender, the victim, or both. Sexual activity also increases under the influence of alcohol, leading to teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
Alcohol also acts as a gateway drug, leading to heavier drug use. In fact, a surprising number of heroin and cocaine addicts say that alcohol was their first introduction to drug use. When teens rely on alcohol to oil the mechanics of social situations or make them forget hard times, adulthood becomes hard to confront when they don’t have the same crutch.
Teen drinkers are twice as likely to seriously consider suicide as opposed to those who don’t drink. It is estimated that alcohol contributes to roughly three hundred teen suicides per year.
Underage drinking is more likely to cause teen deaths than all other illicit drugs combined. Yet for most teens, alcohol is an accepted part of growing up.
Influence on Academics
Studies show that heavy alcohol use in the tender teenage years, when the brain is still developing, can affect mental capacity in adulthood. It can cause short-term memory loss and difficulty concentrating.
Teens who binge drink find it harder to concentrate in class and spend less time on homework, and grades often crash in the case of alcohol use. This hinders future success and prevents teens from getting the scholarships or the jobs they want.
How To Stop Underage Drinking
Studies show that kids who binge drink are often introduced to alcohol by their parents or other family members. In many cases, parents with alcohol dependency themselves set the pace for their children to follow in their footsteps. Other studies show that teens are more likely to experiment with alcohol when left home alone at night.
On the other hand, kids whose parents talk to them about the effects of drugs and alcohol are far less likely to use them. Those involved in extra-curricular activities such as sports, music or community activities are also less prone to underage drinking.
So the solution would be two-fold. First educate your kids on the dangers of underage drinking. Second, under no circumstances should a parent allow or partake in letting a kid use alcohol before legal age.
News from Narconon rehab indicates that those who stay alcohol free are less likely to use drugs so early abstinence is key to stopping the problem.
Source: http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/hd/33836