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Important Considerations About Teen Alcohol Abuse
Research studies show that alcohol abuse among teenagers starts at a very early age. More specifically, the average age when teenagers first try alcohol is 11 years old for boys and 13 years old for girls. Moreover, the average age at which Americans begin drinking regularly, according to these research studies, is 15.9 years old.
Alcohol Abuse Research
According to research that was undertaken by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), teenagers 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."
Teenage Drinking Is a Social Activity
Research has demonstrated that teenage drinking in the United States 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.
Teen Alcohol Abuse: Media and Environmental Influences
Indeed, the social environment and media influences may also play a key role in a teenager's decision to drink. These external factors, conversely, do not explain the whole picture. That is, according to alcohol abuse and alcoholism experts, various personality traits have been identified that can lead to alcohol abuse by teenagers. For example, teenagers who have personalities that can be described as sensation or thrill seeking, under-controlled, or impulsive are considered at risk for alcohol abuse.
Psychological Aspects of Teen Alcohol Abuse
Other teenagers who openly reject authority figures or who can't wait to grow up frequently drink excessively. Not only this, but psychological problems can also lead to drug and alcohol abuse. 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.
Dysfunctional Families and Alcohol Abuse
One of the main psychological problems faced by teenagers that can lead to drinking is the dysfunctional nature of their family lifestyle. Teenagers with parents who face relationship or financial problems may start drinking for comfort. Not only this, but if one or both of the teens' parents are alcoholic, according to one study, teenagers may be up to seven times more likely to become alcoholics themselves as compared with teenagers who have nonalcoholic parents.
Teen Alcohol Abuse Statistics
Regrettably, the scope of the damaging and wide-spread consequences of teenage alcohol abuse and teen alcoholism is not usually fully realized until relevant statistics are explicitly articulated. As a result, the following U.S. teenage alcohol abuse statistics, obtained via various research studies and surveys on the Internet, will be listed below:
- According to a U.S. 1995 national survey of fourth through sixth graders who read the Weekly Reader, 30 percent of the students reported that they received "a lot" of pressure from their classmates to drink beer.
- In one U.S. survey, 50% of high school seniors reported that they drank alcohol in the past 30 days, with 32% of them reporting that they were drunk at least once.
- Research has demonstrated that U.S. teens who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than teenagers who never consume alcohol.
- In 2002, U.S. alcoholism statistics reported that 2.6 million binge drinkers were between the ages of 12 and 17.
- A study of U.S. fifth and sixth-grade students found that those who displayed an awareness of beer ads also held more favorable beliefs about drinking and intended to drink more frequently when they grew up.
Teenage Alcohol Abuse: Conclusion
A review of the research literature shows that teenage alcohol abuse is not only increasing but that it is starting at earlier ages. Perhaps the main point of emphasis concerning teen alcohol abuse is the following statistic 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."
Are these statistics and the information provided above meaningful? To help answer this question, take the following statistic into consideration. In 1998, American substance abuse researchers conducted a major study to uncover the total cost attributable to the negative effects of underage drinking. The results of this study: the cost associated with underage drinking in the United States is more than $58 billion per year.
To make such an astronomically large number more comprehensible, $58 billion is equivalent to the net worth of 58,000 millionaires!
Equipped with this information, educators, community leaders, parents, and political leaders need to educate our young people on the short-term and the long-term dangers of alcohol abuse and alcoholism BEFORE they become teenagers.
Teenage Alcohol Abuse Quick Facts
Did you know...
"According to one alcoholism study, equal numbers of men and women reported experiencing blackouts, despite the fact that the men drank significantly more often and more heavily than the women. This outcome suggests that regardless of the amount of alcohol consumption, females-a group infrequently studied in the literature on blackouts-are at greater risk than males for experiencing blackouts.""According to the research literature, a number of personality traits have been associated with drinking greater amounts of alcohol and drinking more often, including impulsivity, risk-taking, and sensation-seeking-or the tendency to seek out new and exciting experiences. Sensation-seeking and impulsivity also have been linked to deviant behavior and nonconformity, both of which are predictors of heavy drinking and related problems among youth."
"Research demonstrates that for men, having a goal of completely giving up drugs or alcohol also increased their likelihood of remaining in treatment. In other words, those whose goals were "moderation" or who were not committed to lifelong abstinence were much less likely to remain in the program a full year."
"As people age, it takes fewer drinks to become intoxicated, and organs can be damaged by smaller amounts of alcohol than in younger people. Also, up to one-half of the 100 most prescribed drugs for older people react adversely with alcohol."
"Several U.S. studies have shown that about half of alcoholics who have successfully undergone detoxification will relapse within 6-12 months. Remaining alcohol-free is a very difficult task for most alcoholics."
"Research shows that the more alcohol you drink, the more likely you are to have a hangover the next day. But there's no magic formula. A single alcoholic drink is enough to trigger a hangover for some people, while others may drink heavily and escape a hangover entirely."
"The physical and emotional consequences of codependency include anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and cycling between lethargy and hyperactivity."
"According to alcoholism researchers, if you have a family member or friend who has a drinking problem, you should let the individual suffer the consequences of his or her drinking behavior. Stop making excuses for the drinking. Don't take over the individual's responsibilities or cover up for him or her."
"According to U.S. alcohol abuse research, children of alcoholics are significantly more likely to engage in underage alcohol use and to develop addiction and other alcohol-use disorders."
"The diagnosis of alcoholism is generally made by reviewing the person's behavior except when the person has symptoms of withdrawal or organ damage as a result of alcohol consumption."
"A national team of investigators led by psychiatric geneticists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified a gene that appears to be linked to both alcoholism and depression. This gene might be a susceptibility gene that puts a person at risk for developing both alcoholism and depression."
"It is estimated that more than 3 million teenagers in the U.S. between the ages of 14 to 17 are problem drinkers."
"According to alcoholism research, men are more likely to remain in alcohol treatment if they are there under suggestions or threats from their employers. This finding seems to indicate that intervention that includes participation by employers can be effective in some instances."
"Research has shown that people who start drinking at an early age, for instance at 13 years old or younger, significantly increases the likelihood that they will experience alcohol problems later in life."
"Alcoholism is a disease that affects every member of the family, to the extent that the kids who make it into the Alateen rooms report they generally have more problems dealing with the non-drinking parent than they do the alcoholic."
"The U.S. media and popular culture are filled with messages and images that legitimize or even glamorize frequent or excessive drinking."
"According to U.S. research findings, relapse prevention is one of the most important tasks in the management of depressed patients with a past history of alcoholism."
"Depression is a common cause of alcoholism as the depressed person seeks a way out of their problems or a relief from insomnia. Unfortunately, alcohol is itself a depressant, so the problem is only compounded."
"Medical treatments cannot 'cure' drinking problems, but they can be combined with other interventions and therapies to produce treatment that is even more effective."
"Nearly all alcoholics have a comorbid psychiatric disorder, most commonly anxiety and mood disorders in women and drug abuse and antisocial personality disorders in men."
"Anheuser-Busch, brewers of Budweiser, hair-tests their employees to be sure that they are not using any drugs more dangerous than the one they make."
"Codependency is defined by a group of symptoms that typically occur in those who live with someone afflicted with alcoholism or with some other addiction."
"There is no absolute number of drinks per day that indicates a person has alcoholism, although alcoholics do eventually develop a tolerance for alcohol."
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Reader Feedback
Thank you for visiting my "Teen Alcohol Abuse" lens. Feel free to post a quick hello and share some of your thoughts and stories about teen alcoholism and alcohol abuse.
Thanks,
denman4
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mlemoine
Great lens! alcohol use in teens is a huge problem in todays society. Good job spreading the information. God Bless! Posted February 27, 2008 |
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earsringing
Good informative lens! Alcohol abuse especially at a very young age will lead to a lot of complications to a persons health and one complication is ear ringing. Posted February 14, 2008 |
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maswee
What a lens! 5*..Mas Top Secret Fat Loss Secret, Proactol Posted February 12, 2008 |
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AnnsHomeDecor
Very well done lens! Very informative! Posted September 30, 2007 |
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Nicegoogoo
Good lens on teen abuse on alcohol.5 stars for this interesting lens and also make sure to visit my lens on depression treatment . Posted July 29, 2007 |
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Teenage Alcohol Abuse Links
- Teen Alcohol Abuse
- Teen alcohol abuse is starting at earlier ages and increasing, according to U.S. demographic statistics.
- Teen Alcohol Abuse Statistics
- Concentrating on teen alcohol abuse statistics is a useful way to evaluate the personal and the social problems that are related to excessive drinking by teens.
- Alcohol Abuse Among Teenagers
- A key fact about alcohol abuse among teenagers is the following 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.
- Alcohol Abuse and Teenage Statistics
- An extensive informational resource about the relationship that exists between alcohol abuse and teenage statistics on drinking.
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- Discover relevant alcoholism facts, alcoholism statistics, and how more people are suffering from the damaging and unhealthy consequences that are related to this disease.
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- Discover essential facts about alcoholism and how the outcomes of alcoholism such as relationship issues, employment difficulties, poor health, and financial issues destroy people's lives.
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