When it comes to alcohol teens believe many of the myths and practice many of the excuses. It is imperative that we educate our youth or the results can be tragic.
Teens believe all kinds of myths and excuses about alcohol. There are a thousand different ones. It's not like I'm using drugs. I can drink without getting affected. I just need coffee to sober up. Beer isn't as dangerous as hard liquor. I'm a good driver after drinking. I'm only hurting myself. It's important that all of us - teachers, parents and any adults - take the time to discuss alcohol with teens before it's too late.
In the United States an alcohol related motor vehicle accident kills someone every 40 minutes and injures someone every 2 minutes. 80% of those accidents are caused by the drinking of beer. Most of these accidents are the result of young men and many of those young men believed that they were only buzzed and not drunk.
Despite everything we hear about rampant drug use among teens, Alcohol remains the drug of choice among young people. Teens drink alcohol far more than they smoke marijuana or tobacco. As a matter of fact, 60% of 12th graders admitted to using alcohol within the past month in a recent survey. The poll also showed that 40% of 10th graders and 20% of 8th graders drank in the month prior as well.
The U.S. Surgeon General reported in 2007 that 5000 young people die every year as a result of alcohol consumption. The deaths occurred at the hands of accidents, suicide and homicide assisted by alcohol impairment. When young people drink, they drink on the average of 5 drinks qualifying them for binge drinking. Binge drinking causes extreme impairment resulting in these tragic results.
Binge drinking also increases the likelihood of perpetrating or being the victim of either physical or sexual assault. Unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases are also more likely to occur under alcohol impairment.
Another serious problem associated with underage drinking is the developmental effect on the still developing human brain. If alcohol abuse occurs during this development, it may alter chemical functioning and cognition later in life. Also, kids who start drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism later in life.
There are so many compelling reasons for the education of youth on the perils of alcohol consumption. We owe it to our kids to provide them with facts that can overcome the myths and excuses that are so prevalent. Teachers, parents and all adult mentors and role models for children need to find the time speak to kids about Alcohol.
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