Alcohol Abuse Among Teenagers

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Unfortunately, according to the recent drug and alcohol abuse research literature, teenage alcohol abuse is starting at earlier ages AND is increasing in the United States as well as in other developed countries.

Teenage Alcohol Abuse Research by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Research studies show that teenage alcohol abuse starts at a very early age.  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 research studies is 15.9 years old.

According to a research project 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."

Are these teenage alcohol abuse statistics meaningful?  To help answer this question, consider the following.  Research was undertaken in 1998 by American substance abuse researchers to ascertain the total cost associated with the negative outcomes of underage drinking. The cost was more than $58 billion per year!  To help a person comprehend this staggering number, $58 billion dollars is equal to the net worth of 58,000 millionaires!

A Study Undertaken By the Department of Health and Human Services

In a 1996 report on teenage alcohol abuse undertaken by the Department of Health and Human Services, the following was discovered:

1. 33% of the teens surveyed did not understand the intoxicating effects of alcohol.

2. 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.

3. Most teens don't know the strengths of different alcoholic drinks.  For instance, the alcohol content is different in beer, wine, wine coolers, and in whiskey.  And to make things more complicated, 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.

Teenage Alcohol Abuse: A Social Activity

Research has revealed that teenage drinking is mainly a social activity.  In fact, teens rarely drink alone.  Stated differently, the more a teen drinks, the more likely his or her drinking will be with other teenagers.  There are, however, many other reasons besides peer influence that lead to teen drinking and teenage alcohol abuse.

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 about their problems.

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 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

Please see Alcohol Abuse and Teenage Statistics for more information about teens and alcohol abuse.

Alcohol Abuse Among Teenagers:  Conclusion

As outlined above, research studies have demonstrated that teenage alcohol abuse starts at a very early age.  Perhaps the key point to be learned from this is the following statistic from the 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.

Equipped with this information, parents, educators, and political leaders need to educate our young people on the dangers of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction before they become teenagers.

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