Teen Alcohol Abuse: Important Considerations
According to alcohol abuse and alcoholism research studies and alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts, alcohol abuse among teenagers starts at a very early age.
More specifically, in the United States, 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
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism 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 alcohol dependent, 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 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
The alcohol abuse and alcoholism research literature and the available alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts show 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 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: "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 alcohol abuse and alcoholism researchers 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 and with these alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts, 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.
Extra Information
Finding a quality treatment program can be a difficult process. This is why we are including the following information.
The following toll-free phone number is a number to a call center/treatment center that we are proudly affiliated with. This treatment facility provides top-quality and professional "holistic" drug and alcohol rehab and counseling that addresses virtually every aspect of the person's life.
There is someone at this phone number 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Please call this number if you have questions about a drug or alcohol problem or if you want some information about quality drug or alcohol treatment. (888) 565-2282
Help For Drug and Alcohol Problems

The following toll-free phone number is a number to a call center/treatment center that we are proudly affiliated with. This treatment facility provides top-quality and professional "holistic" drug and alcohol rehab and counseling that addresses virtually every aspect of the person's life.
There is someone at this phone number 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Please call this number if you have questions about a drug or alcohol problem or if you want some information about quality drug or alcohol treatment. (888) 565-2282
Teenage Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Related Quick Facts
Did you know...
"According to alcoholism demographics, the three leading causes of death for individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 are suicides, homicides, and vehicle accidents. Unfortunately, the presence of alcohol is a leading determinant in all three of these causes of death. These findings emphasize the need in our country for more relevant educational, preventative, treatment, and intervention efforts that target all individuals, especially teenagers.""According to alcoholism research, as an individual engages in a regular habit of drinking, chemical changes in the brain take place. Alcohol consumption depletes gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the chemical responsible for inhibiting impulsiveness, and it increases the production of glutamate (which excites the nervous system) and norepenephrine (a stress-producing hormone)."
"Addiction treatment has many forms, but effective treatment will address physical, psychological, emotional and social problems and will involve family members. Make an appointment at a treatment center and attend meetings of local self-help groups to better understand what your loved one is going through. Recovery is much more effective with support from family members and friends."
"It seems that a lot of people focus more on the treatment of alcoholism than on the treatment of alcohol abuse. Clearly, one of the reasons for this is that alcoholism is a more serious medical condition than alcohol abuse. There is, however, a convincing argument for the treatment of alcohol abuse BEFORE an individual's abusive and hazardous drinking escalates and becomes alcohol dependency."
"Illegal drugs are not the only substances that can be abused. Indeed, alcohol, prescription and over-the-counter medications, inhalants and solvents, and even coffee and cigarettes, can all be used to harmful excess. Theoretically, almost any substance can be abused."
"According to a report published by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, eighty-seven percent of adults who drink alcoholic beverages had their first drink before the age of twenty-one."
"Alcohol abuse and alcoholism research demonstrates the fact that if you consume alcoholic beverages, it's important to know whether your drinking patterns are safe, risky or harmful. Answering these questions will take only a few minutes, and will generate personalized results based on your age, gender and drinking patterns."
"In the United States, 95% of alcoholics die from their disease and die approximately 15 years earlier than their normal life expectancy."
"There are hundreds if not thousands of clinics, hospitals, and other facilities in the United States provide alcohol detox, rehabilitation, and alcohol treatment services. These treatment options range from short-term in-patient, residential hospitalization to long-term, outpatient education, therapy, and counseling."
"If you suspect that a person has alcohol poisoning or is overdosing on alcohol, get immediate medical assistance (by calling 911), even if the person is underage."
"According to the research literature, in the U.S., alcohol is linked with an estimated 5,000 deaths in people under age 21 each year. This is more deaths than from all the illegal drugs combined."
"Even though a number of medications have been effective in treating alcoholism, there is, however, no 'magic bullet.' That is, no single medication exists that is effective in every situation or with every person."
"According to U.S. alcoholism researchers, risk is not destiny. Just because alcoholism tends to run in families doesn't mean that a child of an alcoholic parent will automatically become an alcoholic too."
"According to one U.S. alcoholism study, of the 940,000 people who said they needed alcohol or drug abuse treatment in a specialty facility, only 314,000 made an effort to get treatment, while 625,000 made no effort."
"One very typical belief among many people is that drug abusers should be able to quit taking drugs if they are only willing to change their behavior. What people often fail to comprehend is the complexity of drug addiction-that it is a disease that impacts the brain and because of this, quitting drug abuse is not simply a matter of willpower."
"If you drink to an excess, you may consume more alcohol than your body can metabolize and eliminate. Under these circumstances, the body and the brain may become "overloaded" and result in alcohol poisoning. If the amount of alcohol is great enough, the body and the brain will 'shut down' and the person can die as a result."
"It is important to note that alcohol overdose doesn't only occur from any one heavy drinking incident, but may also occur from a constant infusion of alcohol in the blood stream."
"Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to suffer employment problems, abuse other drugs, and commit criminal and violent acts once they reach young adulthood, according to a RAND Health study."
"Whether a baby's alcohol or drug-caused health problems will continue as the child grows older is not always known. Medical research does show, however, that children born to mothers who used marijuana and or alcohol regularly during pregnancy may have trouble concentrating, when they get older."
"If you drink to an excess, you may consume more alcohol than your body can metabolize and eliminate. Under these circumstances, the body and the brain may become "overloaded" and result in alcohol poisoning. If the amount of alcohol is great enough, the body and the brain will 'shut down' and the person can die as a result."
"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, kids who drink to help them deal with anger or frustration issues are not likely to benefit from a prevention program developed for kids who are just experimenting with alcohol."
"Research demonstrates the fact that if someone is not willing to be honest about their drinking habits, it is difficult, if not impossible, to accurately diagnose alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence."
"According to the research literature, in the U.S., alcohol is linked with an estimated 5,000 deaths in people under age 21 each year. This is more deaths than from all the illegal drugs combined."
"The effects of many medications are strengthened by alcohol, while others are inhibited. Of particular importance is its reinforcing effect on anti-anxiety drugs, sedatives, antidepressants, and anti-psychotic medications."
"The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the 21-year-old minimum drinking age laws have saved 21,887 lives since the mid-1970s."
"The drug and alcohol abuse research literature reveals that addicts have a propensity to involve themselves in substance abuse rather than using more responsible and healthy coping mechanisms when experiencing anger, frustration, stress, or anxiety in their daily lives."
"Fetal alcohol syndrome is a combination of physical and mental birth defects that affects about 6% of the babies born to U.S. women who are alcohol abusers or alcoholics."
"It is important for drinkers to realize that when they frequently abuse alcohol on a regular basis, they increase the risk of becoming an alcoholic."
"More than 2 million Americans suffer from alcohol-related liver disease. Some drinkers, moreover, develop alcoholic hepatitis (that is, an inflammation of the liver) as a result of long-term heavy drinking."
Feedback from Visitors and Friends
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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Reply
- rehab-clinic rehab-clinic Jul 4, 2009 @ 6:18 pm
- Many times the drug user is simply not ready or willing to stop yet, even when confronted with the facts. But we have learned there is much we can do to encourage recovery.
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Reply
- Christopher_Brown Christopher_Brown May 16, 2009 @ 2:04 pm
- Here's a link to great lens that will provide information to parents to help them prevent teenage drinking. http://www.squidoo.com/stopteendrinking
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Reply
- review-water4gascom review-water4gascom Jan 19, 2009 @ 6:24 pm
- Such a big problem now with most young drinkers. It's just gone too far with teen drinking, and it should start at home with a good discussion on alcohol! Haydos United Bank Card Fat Loss 4 Idiots
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Reply
- jkrene jkrene Dec 24, 2008 @ 12:46 am
- this is a very useful lens on alcohol abuse, and unfortunately we are seeing too many teens going way over board - and harming people! Jolene Autopilot Profits Fat Loss 4 Idiots
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- StephenC StephenC Sep 21, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
- Enjoyed your lens. Nice going.
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Help For Alcohol and Drug Problems

The following toll-free phone number is a number to a call center/treatment center that we are proudly affiliated with. This treatment facility provides top-quality and professional "holistic" drug and alcohol rehab and counseling that addresses virtually every aspect of the person's life.
There is someone at this phone number 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Please call this number if you have questions about a drug or alcohol problem or if you want some information about quality drug or alcohol treatment. (888) 565-2282
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- About Alcohol Information is an educational website about alcohol abuse and alcoholism and the psychological, health, physical, and social problems that result from excessive and abusive drinking.
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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.
Drug and Alcohol Treatment Info

The following toll-free phone number is a number to a call center/treatment center that we are proudly affiliated with. This treatment facility provides top-quality and professional "holistic" drug and alcohol rehab and counseling that addresses virtually every aspect of the person's life.
There is someone at this phone number 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Please call this number if you have questions about a drug or alcohol problem or if you want some information about quality drug or alcohol treatment. (888) 565-2282
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Your online up-to-the-minute resource for info, facts, and news about teenage alcohol abuse
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