Alcohol Abuse Among Teenagers
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Unfortunately, according to the research literature, alcohol abuse among teenagers is increasing AND starting at earlier
ages.
Recent Research Findings About Alcohol Abuse Among Teenagers
Research studies demonstrate that alcohol abuse among teenagers starts when they are very young. 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 research 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 develop a dependency on alcohol than those who begin drinking at 21 years of
age. 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."
In a 1996 report done by the Department of Health and Human Services, the following was discovered:
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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.
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33% of the teens surveyed did not understand the intoxicating effects of alcohol.
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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 Drinking is A Social Function
Research has revealed that teen drinking is mainly a social activity. In fact, teens rarely drink alone.
Stated
differently, the more a teen drinks, the more likely their drinking will be with other teens. There are, however, many other reasons
besides peer influence that lead to teen drinking.
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.
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.
| "Binge alcohol use" is defined as drinking five or more alcoholic drinks at one sitting on at least one day in the
past 30 days. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in their 2002-2003 "National
Surveys on Drug Use and Health," North Dakota had the highest rate (31.4%) in the nation for binge alcohol use by persons who
were 12 years old or older while Utah had the lowest rate (15.9%). |
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
become alcoholics themselves as compared with teens who have nonalcoholic parents.
| What causes college students to abuse alcohol? College students abuse alcohol because they can, because it can be
fun, because alcohol is so accessible, because their friends and other students are doing it, because drinking makes them feel
good, because alcohol helps them relax and open up more in social situations, because of peer pressure and peer influence, and
because drinking alcohol is accepted. |
What Makes Up One Drink?
Since one drink is defined as containing one-half of an ounce of
pure ethyl alcohol, each of the following is considered to be one drink:
- 10 ounces to 12 ounces of beer at 4% to 5% alcohol content
- 8 ounces to 12 ounces of wine cooler at 4% to 5% alcohol content
- 4 ounces to 5 ounces of table wine at 9% to 12% alcohol content
- 2.5 ounces of fortified wine at 20% alcohol content
- 1.25 ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits at 40% alcohol content
- 1 ounce of 100 proof distilled spirits at 50% alcohol content
| The following represents some of the negative consequences of drinking alcohol and the fertility of the father:
killing off the sperm-generating cells in the testicles and abnormal liver function and a rise in estrogen levels that, in turn,
affect sperm development and hormone levels. |
Alcohol Abuse Among Teenagers: Conclusion
As discussed above, research studies have shown that
alcohol abuse among teenagers starts at a very early age. Perhaps the key statistic along these lines is the
following information from the NIAAA: teens who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop a dependency
on alcohol than those who begin drinking at 21 years of age.
Armed with this information, our educators, parents, and political leaders need to educate our young people on the dangers of
alcohol abuse and alcoholism BEFORE and as they become teenagers.
Please see Alcohol Abuse and Teenage Statistics for more information
about alcohol abuse among teenagers.
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| The first symptom of an alcohol overdose is usually nausea, followed by vomiting. These symptoms are messages from
your body that you ingested more alcohol than your body can metabolize. The following represent other signs and symptoms of
alcohol poisoning: unconsciousness (passing out); blue-tinged skin or pale skin; seizures; absent reflexes; confusion; a rapid
pulse rate; no response to being shaken or pinched; inability to stand; difficulty awakening the person; and slow, shallow, or
irregular breathing. |
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