Teenage Alcoholism By Austin J. Russell December 14, 2011 Teenage drinking. What is it about drinking that teenagers find so attractive? Social influences? Confidence? Respect from others? The focus of this article is on why the highest percentage of alcohol drinkers is young people and teenagers like me and the reasons behind that percentage.
Statistics show that the highest percentage of alcoholics, at least in the United States lies in the younger population. This figure is 31. 5% (www. alcoholism. bout. com).
Further investigation will show the average age teenager’s first drink, along with reasons teenagers begin to drink in the first place. What is known regarding the types of teenage alcoholism, or young adult alcoholism is widely published in various articles obtained on the internet. Most sources that the investigation has uncovered, all agree that the younger population is the biggest consumer of alcohol. The younger populations have many influences to get them to consume alcohol.
Many of them are curious, or want to be part of the group. Some young people drink because it makes them feel older or gives them a certain image amount their friends. They also drink to forget about things that are going on in their life or to make it through the day. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released guidelines about drinking alcohol when under 18 years in 2009. “Children under 15 years of age are at the greatest risk of harm from drinking and that for this group, not drinking alcohol is especially important.
For young people aged 15-17 years, the safest option is to delay the initiation of drinking for as long as possible” (www. cyh. com/HealthTopicDetails). This investigation focused on why teenagers drink and the cause of young adult alcoholism. Specifically the investigator sought to discover why young adults have the higher percentage of alcoholism and the reasons.
Young people drink for many reasons. A survey conducted, which interview 16 to 17 year olds, parents of 10 to 17 year old, and professionals who work ith children and young people suggested that young people drink for the same reasons as their parents and other adults “It’s the party atmosphere alcohol can bring” (drinkaware. co. uk/campaigns/alcohol-young-people-speak-out); “it gives you confidence to meet new people and loosens your boundaries a little bit” Other reasons given were that young people see an adult stressed at work come home and have a glass of wine or beer, maybe a few, and they think that’s a good way to deal with it.
Survey results also disclosed that parents and/or school courses usually educate the young people too late.Juniors and seniors in High School have already had, or experimented with their first drink. Possibly educating children earlier might have a more positive effect on whether the teenagers would succumb to temptation or decide that they should wait until they are older to consume alcohol. The following chart, (http://norml. org) is an example of findings as far as teenagers and what is called “binge drinking”, meaning to have 5 or more drinks in a two week period. The chart depicts 8th, 10th and 12th graders specifically.
From the chart, you can see that 8th grade binge drinking has decrease in the years since 1991, at 10. 9%, spiking in 1996 to 13. 3%, decreasing in later years, with 2010 being at 7. 2%. 10th grade drinkers have also showed a decrease in the amount of binge drinkers, with 1991 starting at 21%, increasing in 1996 to 22.
8%, and as of 2010 decreasing to 16. 3%. As far as 12th graders go, they started out on the chart with a 29. 8% in 1991, increasing in 1996 to 30. 3%, and also showing a decline in 2011 to 23.
2%. The next chart (http://www. rugfree. org), shown below, also chosen for this investigation, depicts the age at which teens, who reported drinking, in this survey, had the first alcoholic drink.
Shockingly, 25% of the 100 teens had taken their first drink by 12 or younger. Indicated on the chart was the average age, when a teenager had taken his or her first drink. The age indicated, was the age of 14. Roughly by the age of 15 ? most teenagers have taken their first drink . The smaller percentage of first drinkers being in the 17-19 age range.
In an article posted in top news US (Jonathan Sanders, Article published 12/10/11) it was said that “1. 2 million people in the United States were hospitalized due to over drinking last year. ” The worst part, about 7, 000 of those were teenagers. Peer pressure has contributed to an increase in teen drinking.
Society for teens, looks, at them as an “outcast” if they do not drink. Very sad to see that society, advertising and friend and/or parent influence has cause a greater part of our younger generation to feel they need alcohol to prove a point or to feel better about themselves.In summary, teenage alcoholism has become increasingly high. American teenagers start drinking at younger ages every year. In fact, the United States, even though the legal drinking age 21, countries like Italy where the legal age is 16, teenagers do not drink as much as American teenagers.
Although binge drinking, as indicated on the above chart has decreased, the percentages for teenagers to start drinking has increased. Personally most teenagers do not deny the fact that they drink.It may seem normal to many people, but drinking excessively at any age is not healthy. Teenagers need to understand that drinking excessively in a short amount of time is more detrimental to their health thank drinking a little every day.
Drinking until you are drunk is never a healthy choice. The effects on adolescents can damage brain cells, take years off your life and being drunk to a point where your decision making process is not able to make right decisions.The legal limit is not set just protect teens, it is set with the thought that teenagers, now young adults at 21 will make more mature decisions and become smart enough to do the consequences of drinking excessively. References: T, Buddy, Five types of Alcoholism, About. com Guide, Health’s Disease and Condition, updated December 27, 2007. http://alcoholism.
about. com/od/about/a/types. htm Women’s and Children’s Health Network, Teen Health, Ages 12-17, Alcohol and young People, February, 2009. http://cyh.
om/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails. aspx? Drinkaware. co. UK for the facts, updated by Kate Prior, August 22, 2011. http://www.
drinkaware. co. uk/campaigns/alcohol-young-people-speak-out/primary-feature http://stash. normal. org Feliz, Jose, The Partners at Drugfree.
com, Article New Research: Teen Drug and Alcohol Use Headed in Wrong Direction, , April 6, 2011 <http://www. drug. free. org> Sanders, Jonathan, Drinking Problems in Teens on the Rise, December 10, 2011. http://topnews. us/content/245129-drinking-problems-teen-rise
