Alcohol abuse is a growing problem among teenagers and young people around the world. Many teenagers as young as 14 start drinking due to peer pressure or our of rebellion to their parents or society. Sadly, in many instances the first ‘starter’ drinks leads to a repeat pattern of behavior of drinking, drugs and addiction.
Alcohol abuse statistics show that 48% of all alcohol in the US is consumed by underage drinkers, with over 13 thousand children taking their first drink daily. This pattern of behavior has led to over 150 thousand college students developing alcohol related health issues every year, problems that were completely avoidable if they had chosen to drink less. It is no surprise given these statistics that car accidents are the number one killer of children under the age of 16 in the US to date.
The danger with starting alcohol consumption at such a young age is that these teenagers become four times more likely to become alcoholics. In other words the danger of them becoming alcohol dependent teenagers increases by 400%. The effects of alcoholism on children who are still developing can be catastrophic in the long run.
Education and open communication about alcohol and its dangers is essential to protecting children from making life altering choices do to their youth and immaturity. It is important to be open and frank, but not judgmental or exaggerated when talking to young people about alcohol and drinking. Most teenagers react negatively to overly preachy or sanctimonious lectures about alcohol and will many times do exactly the opposite of what you suggest if the subject isn’t addressed correctly.
If you suspect that your teenager might be drinking, don’t ignore it and just attribute it to ‘being a teen’. Teenage drinking is a massive problem, and due to the level of maturity involved, many teenagers make life altering dangerous choices while under the influence of alcohol. Open and honest communication about drinking, and the dangers of drinking are one of the best ways to protect your child from this dangerous addiction.
