Teendrinking

Teen Drinking is becoming more and more of a problem every day in this country, teens are thinking drinking is cool, but little do they know it is slowly destroying them. So how do we put a stop to underage drinking? The legal drinking age is twenty one, yet people under the legal age are still drinking. The consequences’ of teen drinking are outrageous! They can suffer by causing brain damage, drinking and driving, suicide, engaging in sexual behavior, and many other risks. What are the exact risks teen’s question? , how can it really hurt them, but more importantly, what are the ways to prevent it all together. Since the drinking age was passed in 1984 teen drinking was seeing a decline on the charts, but today the rates are seeing an incline. Teens are reporting that alcohol is easier than ever to get, this is including 61% of eighth graders, 80% of sophomores, and 90% of seniors (“21 is the legal”). In the year 2004, eleven percent of all the alcohol consumed was by people between the ages of 12 to 20. The majority of this was consumed in the form of binge drinking, over 90% of it to be exact. Binge drinking is a form of drinking; it usually means instead of having just one or two drinks in one period of time, that specific person is consuming more than five drinks (“underage,” 2004).
Most teen parties are parties where there is only one kind of drinking, binge drinking. I know firsthand that parties or “get-togethers” are like this. These teens are coming to a certain house and drinking from the time they arrive until they either pass out or have to leave, but how are they getting home? The leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 20 are car accidents. Out of those accidents 1,900 people under the age of 21 die from wrecks involving underage drinking. Younger individuals who have alcohol in their system are more likely to suffer from impairment of their driving skills, than someone that is of age to drink (“dangers,” 2004).
Another big risk that comes with teen drinking is suicide. Alcohol contributes to at least 300 teen suicides a year. Alcohol can have major effects on things like depression and stress; they can cause these symptoms to get worse and ultimately push teens to committing such an act. Teens that binge drink, are four times more likely to commit suicide than nondrinking teens (“Dangers,” 2004).
Sexual behavior goes hand in hand with teen drinking as well. Teens that are drunk or have been drinking are more likely to engage in sexual activity than those or are not. When these teens do engage in sexual activity, their judgment is already blurred from the effects of the alcohol, so they are more likely to not use protection, or have sex with someone they barely know.
One of the most outrageous risks and one teens’ do not often think about, is the risk of damaging your brain development. Research has shown that a person’s brain is still developing well up until their early 20’s. When that developing brain is taking in alcohol it can have long lasting effects on ones intellectual capabilities. Also when drinking starts before the brain has fully developed, that person is more likely to become an alcoholic. When the drinking age is delayed, the risk of that person becoming an alcoholic or dependent on alcohol is reduced by 14% each year (“Dangers,” 2004). Other risks from teen drinking include poor academics, the possible use of drugs, such as marijuana, use of inhalants, and or carrying of a weapon.
So how do we stop this horrible epidemic? There are many steps everyone can take to prevent teen drinking, and these steps need to start at home. Teens are saying that alcohol is easily accessed; the first place they will go is home. Parents need to take steps at home. Keep track of all the alcohol in the home, make sure teens can not gain access to it! Talk to your teen about the effects of drinking at an early age. Let them know all the possible risks of drinking. Another step parents can take at home is teaching them to say no. They need to know when they are at a party, not to give in to peer pressure, just because they see everyone else doing it, does not make it right. Talk to your teen, find out what they are doing in their spare time. Parents that are more involved in their Childs’ life are more likely to know what their child is doing and more likely to have an impact on the decisions they make. Parents are one of the main supporters of the drinking age, and only they know their teen and can talk with them about drinking (“Stopping teens”).
Another big way to help prevent teen drinking is taking steps in the community. There will always be that one parent that provides alcohol to their teen and their friends. So if you know that your child is going to a party, ask questions. Find out who is throwing it, where it will be, and is there going to be parents present. Contact that parent; let them know how you feel about the drinking age. Inform that parent about the risks of teen drinking, and let them know, if your child is at their party, and there is alcohol being served, your child is not to have any. Don’t just stop with the parents of your teens friends, go throughout the rest of the community. Let your friends, neighbors, and family members know that you are against your child drinking, and the condoning of teen drinking all together. Talk to the school board, principles, teachers, and coaches. Go to the local restaurants, clubs and bars; make sure they enforce checking ID before serving alcohol. You do not have to be a parent to take these steps, if you have no children, your children are not old enough to even walk, or your children are already past the legal drinking age, and you believe that serving teens is wrong, take action.
The popularity of drinking is a major reason teens drink. It is all about the hype. If young people think everyone is doing, they are going to do it to. Teens want to fit in, and if drinking is what they think everyone else is doing, and those people fit it, they are going to follow. According to Hanson (2011), research has shown that reducing misperceptions of alcohol abuse is an effective way to reduce actual abuse among young people. By doing surveys showing the actual behavior of teens and posting them can significantly and quickly reduce the amount of teens drinking. A similar project showed the following: a 35% reduction in heavy drinking, a 31% reduction in alcohol-related injuries to self, and a 54% reduction in alcohol-related injuries to others (Hanson, 2011). By simply reducing the hype, the number of teen drinkers will follow.
The risks are scary and true and they ways to prevent these risks are simple. Everyone needs to take a stand in helping prevent teen drinking. Parents, talk to your children, no matter what age, the younger you start teaching them the risks, the better. Local community members take a stand and make sure all establishments are checking ID. And overall in society, lower the hype of drinking.