Teen Alcohol Abuse

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Important Considerations About Teen Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse and alcoholism research studies reveal 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

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

A review of the alcohol abuse and alcoholism 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 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, 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...

"Alcohol use interacts with conditions such as depression and stress to contribute to suicide, the third leading cause of death among people between the ages of 14 and 25. In one study, 37 percent of eighth grade females who drank heavily reported attempting suicide, compared with 11 percent who did not drink."

"Although the risk is higher with heavy alcohol use, scientific research has shown that any amount of alcohol may affect your unborn baby. You can prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder by not drinking at all while you are pregnant. Many doctors suggest just that."

"In 2006, an estimated 13.3 percent of U.S. persons aged 12 or older drove under the influence of an illicit drug or alcohol at least once in the past year. This percentage has dropped since 2005, when it was 14.1 percent. The 2006 estimate corresponds to 31.7 million persons."

"Teenage drug and alcohol abuse research shows that adolescent drug and alcohol abuse and addiction affects youth from all races, socioeconomic levels, religious preferences, and geographic locations."

"According to recent studies, it has been discovered that approximately 53% of adults in the United States have reported that one or more of their close relatives has a drinking problem."

"According to a U.S. study of treatment patients between 1993 and 2003, the number of people who are being treated for drug abuse who report that they began taking at least one drug before they were thirteen years old is increasing significantly."

"In the United States, approximately 40% of adults will use an illegal drug at some time during their lives. This does not include the use of alcohol or prescription medications. Many people abuse more than one illegal substance at a time."

"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."

"Substance abuse research shows that doctors at times fail to accurately identify women who are alcohol abusers or alcohol dependent because women have a tendency to seek treatment for nonspecific health problems and issues such as anxiety, insomnia, or nervousness."

"Interventions should be carefully planned and developed by professional substance abuse counselors who are experienced in such procedures. The primary purpose of an intervention is to get the alcoholic to go into a treatment program."

"Researchers have suggested that for some victims of childhood abuse, alcohol may serve as a coping mechanism to deal with the trauma associated with the abuse and its consequences."

"Alcohol is typically found in the offender, victim or both, in about half of all U.S. homicides and serious assaults, as well as in a high percentage of sex-related crimes, robberies, and incidents of domestic violence, and alcohol-related problems are disproportionately found among both juvenile and adult criminal offenders."

"Your doctor can diagnose alcohol use problems by asking about your medical history and doing a physical exam. Your doctor might do other tests to detect the amount of alcohol in your blood and any damage to your body caused by alcohol."

"U.S. research studies on twins strongly suggest a very strong genetic link to alcoholism."

"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."

"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."

"According to alcoholism statistics, roughly 9.7 million current drinkers in the United States are between the ages of 12-20. Regarding these young drinkers, 18.7% are binge drinkers and 6% are excessive drinkers."

"In the United States, research has demonstrated that continued alcohol abuse is one of the major risk factors for violence in intimate relationships."

"Regardless of the source of addiction, the effects are mainly in the brain, physically, chemically, and psychologically affecting energy levels and emotions."

"According to drug and alcohol abuse research, to make a successful recovery, the dependent person needs new tools in order to deal with problematic situations and circumstances that will arise. Factors such as seeing a friend from the days when the addict was using, returning to the same home town or addictive environment, things such as songs, objects, or smells may trigger memories that can push a hot button or trigger psychological stress. All of these factors can not only get in the way of recovery for the dependent person, but they can short-circuit sobriety and lead to relapse."

"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, compared to the experimenters, boys who reported drinking before 4 p.m.were eight times more likely to belong to the highest-risk group that drank for multiple reasons; girls who drank before 4 p.m. were six times more likely to belong to the group that drank for multiple reasons."

"According to alcohol abuse and alcoholism research, many, if not most, of the individuals who become alcohol dependent were abusive drinkers earlier in their lives. This finding demonstrates the fragile and thin line that separates alcohol abuse and alcoholism."

"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."

"Research has demonstrated that vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among those aged 15 to 20. Combining teenagers' lack of driving experience with the use of alcohol, marijuana and/or other substances that impair cognitive and motor abilities can be a deadly combination."

"According to a 1997 report by the Ninth Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, alcohol is a leading cause of death among youth, particularly teenagers. It contributes substantially to adolescent motor vehicle crashes, other traumatic injuries, suicide, date rape, and family and school problems."

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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

rehab-clinic wrote...

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.

ReplyPosted July 04, 2009

Christopher_Brown wrote...

Here's a link to great lens that will provide information to parents to help them prevent teenage drinking. http://www.squidoo.com/stopteendrinking

ReplyPosted May 16, 2009

review-water4gascom wrote...

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

ReplyPosted January 19, 2009

jkrene wrote...

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

ReplyPosted December 24, 2008

StephenC wrote...

Enjoyed your lens. Nice going.
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StephenC

ReplyPosted September 21, 2008

 
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Current News About Teenage Alcohol Abuse From Google 

Your online up-to-the-minute resource for info, facts, and news about teenage alcohol abuse

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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.

Teen Alcoho Abuse News from Moreover 

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Teen Alcohol Abuse News from Bloglines 

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Alcoholism News from Medical News Today 

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