Alcohol

&

Teenagers

Did you know that underage drinking is the number one drug problem among the nation's youth? Alcoholism is a disease just like diabetes or high blood pressure. It is nothing to hide and be ashamed of. There are treatment programs and help. Many smart and famous people have needed help to be cured.

Although it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase, possess, and consume alcohol, many teenagers do drink. As a result, in addition to breaking the law, these teens are particularly vulnerable to the various problems that alcohol can cause.

States have a number of laws related to underage drinking. In Florida laws are intended to prevent persons under 21 years of age from obtaining, possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages and from driving if they have consumed any amount of alcohol.

The parent's role in these matters is often a very frustrating one. Giving young people information they may not want to hear or challenging a behavior that has peer approval can be difficult... BUT VERY NECESSARY! Given the potential dangers of alcohol use, adults simply have no choice. Parents realize alcohol is not less dangerous than other drug, and much more available.

It's also important to consider that teens may face their own frustrations and difficulties regarding the use of alcohol, brought on by factors such as peer pressure. Doing drugs including alcohol won't make anyone happy or popular or help in learning the skills needed for growing up. In fact, doing drugs can cause failure in all these things. Some people who are shy in social situations who use alcohol to loosen up, frequently end up making fools of themselves and doing things that they later regret.

Remember, you DON'T NEED drugs or alcohol. ...It's OK NOT to drink!

How Do I Know If I Have a Drinking

Problem?

Chances are if you're even asking the question, you have a drinking problem.

But consider this:

• You have an inability to control your drinking -- it seems that regardless of what you decide before hand, you frequently wind up drinking too much

• Use of alcohol to escape your problems

• Changing from your usual reserved character into the "life of the party"

• Your personality changes-- does drinking turn you from Dr. Jekyl to Mr. Hyde?

• You have a high tolerance level -- you can drink just about everybody under the table

• Blackouts occur -- sometimes you don't remember what happened when you were drinking

• You have problems at work or in school as a result of drinking

• There is concern shown by your family and friends about your drinking

If you have a drinking problem, or if you suspect you have one, there are many others

out there like you, and there is help available. Talk to a school counselor, friend or parent.

What Effects Can Alcohol Have on Me?

• Alcohol goes directly into the bloodstream which is why it has effects on every system in the body.

• Heavy drinking can cause cirrhosis and cancer of the liver.

• Alcohol can give you bad breath, hangovers and lots of calories.

• Children in families with alcoholic members are at a higher risk for alcoholism.

• Excessive drinking can decrease the amount of testosterone in a man's body and cause impotence.

• Alcohol abuse can lead to both homicides and suicides.

• Alcohol blocks the messages going to your brain and alters your perceptions and emotions, vision, hearing, and coordination.

• Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. It affects virtually every organ in the body and chronic use can lead to numerous preventable diseases, including alcoholism.

• Alcohol lowers inhibitions and impairs judgement which can lead to risky behaviors, including practicing unprotected sex. This can lead to acquiring HIV/AIDS as well as other sexually transmitted diseases, and unwanted pregnancy. Alcohol also hinders coordination, slows reaction time, dulls senses, and blocks memory functions.

• Long-term effects of heavy alcohol use include loss of appetite, vitamin deficiencies, stomach ailments, sexual impotence, liver damage, heart damage, central nervous system damage and memory loss.

FIGURES AND FACTS

• First use of alcohol usually begins around the age of 13!

• One 12-ounce bottle of beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine and one 1.5 ounce shot of liquor all contain about the same amount of alcohol.

• The relationship between alcohol and motor vehicle crashes is widely acknowledged. In 1993, 40 percent of the 5,905 traffic fatalities of 15- to 20-year olds were alcohol related.

• Junior and senior high school students drink 35 percent of all wine coolers sold in the U.S.; they also consume 1.1 billion cans of beer!

• According to the 1994 Monitoring the Future survey, alcohol remains the number one substance used by 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. Over 50 percent of 12th graders report drinking alcohol within the past month.

• Approximately 2/3 of teenagers who drink can buy their own alcohol.

• Use of alcohol is associated with the leading causes of death and injury among teenagers and young adults. Over 38% of drownings are alcohol-related.

• Alcohol use at an early age is an indicator of future drug and alcohol problems.

• 87 percent of high school seniors have used alcohol; in comparison, 63 percent have smoked cigarettes; 32 percent have used marijuana, and only 6 percent have used cocaine.

• 31.9 percent of youth under 18 years old in long-term, state-operated juvenile institutions in 1987 were under the influence of alcohol at the time of arrest.

• Alcohol use is implicated in almost two thirds of the sexual assault and date rape cases among teens and college students.

• Among sexually active teens, those who average 5 or more drinks daily were nearly 3 times less likely to use condoms, thus placing them at greater risk of HIV infection. Among all teens who drink, 16 percent use condoms less often after drinking.

• Students with grade point averages of D or F drink 3 times as much as those who earn A's.

• Rapid ingestion of alcohol can cause breathing difficulties and death.

• Among teenagers who "binge" drink 39 percent say they drink alone; 58 percent drink when they are upset; 30 percent drink when they are bored; and 37 percent drink to feel high.

• Almost half of college students who said they had been victims of crime admitted they used drugs or alcohol before the crime occurred.

• Alcohol consumption, abuse and its consequences have been estimated to cost our society $86 billion each year - $26 billion more than the cost of Desert Storm.

• 240,000 to 360,000 of the current college student body will eventually die of alcohol-related causes.

ALCOHOL AND PREGNANCY

• Drinking alcohol while you are pregnant can hurt your baby.

• The alcohol in your blood is carried into the baby's bloodstream. Because the baby is still developing, your consuming alcohol can lead to a miscarriage or birth defects.

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) refers to a set of physical and mental birth defects found in babies whose mothers drank alcohol regularly during pregnancy.

• Fetal Alcohol Effect (FAE) is a milder version of birth defects found in some babies of women who drank less during pregnancy.

• Some effects include small size/low birth weight, brain damage, mental retardation, behavioral problems, facial abnormalities, and heart, lung and kidney defects.

• Women who drink are also at higher risk for miscarriage.

• Nobody knows how much alcohol it takes to harm a baby or at what time during a pregnancy alcohol is dangerous. It's best for you and your baby to avoid drinking if you are pregnant, if you are trying to get pregnant, or if you are breast-feeding.

Your Baby's Health

• Every woman wants her baby to be healthy. Avoiding alcohol during pregnancy is one of the most important steps you can take to give your baby the gift of good health.

• Even if you drank alcohol earlier in your pregnancy, stopping now can increase your chances of having a healthy baby.

DEATH OF AN INNOCENT

I went to a party, Mom, I remembered what you said.

You told me not to drink, Mom, so I drank soda instead.

I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would.

I didn't drink and drive, Mom, even though the others said I should.

I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right.

Now the party is finally ending, Mom, as everyone is driving out of sight.

As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece.

Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet.

I started to drive away, Mom, but as I pulled out into the road,

the other car didn't see me, Mom, and hit me like a load.

As I lay there on the pavement, Mom, I hear the policeman say,

the other guy is drunk, Mom, and now I'm the one who will pay.

I'm lying here dying, Mom.. I wish you'd get here soon.

How could this happen to me, Mom? My life just burst like a balloon.

There is blood all around me, Mom, and most of it is mine.

I hear the medic say, Mom, I'll die in a short time.

I just wanted to tell you, Mom, I swear I didn't drink.

It was the others, Mom. The others didn't think.

He was probably at the same party as I.

The only difference is, he drank and I will die.

Why do people drink, Mom? It can ruin your whole life.

I'm feeling sharp pains now. Pains just like a knife.

The guy who hit me is walking, Mom, and I don't think it's fair.

I'm lying here dying and all he can do is stare.

Tell my brother not to cry, Mom. Tell Daddy to be brave.

And when I go to heaven, Mom, put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave

Someone should have told him, Mom, not to drink and drive.

If only they had told him, Mom, I would still be alive.

My breath is getting shorter, Mom. I'm becoming very scared.

Please don't cry for me, Mom. When I needed you, you were always there.

I have one last question, Mom, before I say good bye.

I didn't drink and drive, so why am I the one to die?

-Anonymous

 

The information above was taken from the following web sites. I have provided a brief description of each site to guide you to your interests.

LINKS

http://www.mudpc.org/stats.html Statistics on alcohol

http://www.mudpc.org/facts.html Facts about alcohol

http://www.livonia.lib.mi.us/yadvice.htm young adult links

http://www.health.org/pressrel/alcart.htm Deaths due to alcohol

http://www.health.org/pressrel/jan97/6.htm alcohol industry statistics

http://www.health.org/pubs/alcruns/index.htm alcohol runs in the family

http://www.health.org/pubs/cutdown.htm how to cut down on drinking

http://www.health.org/pubs/qdocs/alcohol/fas-broc/index.htm Drinking affect on babies

Traditional Resources

Al-Anon/Alateen Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

P.O. Box 862

Midtown Station

New York, NY 10018-0862

212-302-7240

1-800-334-2666 (U.S.)

1-800-443-4525 (Canada)

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) World Services, Inc.

475 Riverside Drive

New York, NY 10115

212-870-3400

Children of Alcoholics Foundation, Inc.

Box 4185, Grand Central Station

New York, NY 10115

1-800-359-COAF

212-754-0656

National Association for Children of Alcoholics

11426 Rockville Pike, Suite 100

Rockville, MD 20852

301-468-0985

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information

P.O. Box 2345

Rockville, MD 20852

301-468-2600

1-800-729-6686

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence

12 West 21st Street, 7th Floor

New York NY 10010

1-800-622-2255

National Families in Action

2296 Henderson Mill Road

Suite 300

Atlanta, GA 30345

404-934-6364

Last Updated on 08/13/06

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