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JOIN US IN THE FIGHT AGAINST UNDERAGE DRINKING
Underage alcohol use is not just a harmless "rite of passage". Apart from being illegal, underage drinking poses a high risk to our youth and society. It is more likely to kill our young people than all illegal drugs combined, and costs Americans $53 billion a year in losses from crime, traffic crashes, and academic failure.
Listed below are some of the most serious and widespread alcohol-related problems among adolescents:
* Drinking and Driving
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among youth ages 15-20. Adolescents already are at increased risk through their relative lack of driving experience, and coupled with alcohol-induced drving impairment, puts the rate of fatal crashes among drivers between 16 and 20 at more than twice the rate of drivers 21 and older.
Suicide
Alcohol use interacts with conditions such as depression and stress to contribute to suicide, the third leading cause of death among people between the ages of 14 and 25. In one study, 37 percent of eighth grade females who drank heavily reported attempting suicide, compared to 11 percent who did not drink.
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault, including rape, occurs most commonly among women in late adolescence and early adulthood, usually within the context of a date. In one survey, approximately 10 percent of female high school students reported having been raped. Research suggests that alcohol use by the offender, the victim, or both increases the likelihood of sexual assault by a male acquaintance.
High-Risk Sex
Adolescent alcohol use has been associated with high-risk sexual behaviors - having multiple sexual partners, and failing to use condoms. The consequences are unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmited diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
Effects on the Brain Adolescence is a time of transition between childhood and adulthood. During this time significant changes occur in the body, including formation of new networks in the brain. Exposing the brain to alcohol during this period may interrupt key processes of brain development, possibly leading to mild cognitive impairment, as well as to further escalation of drinking. Subtle alcohol-induced adolescent learning impairments could affect academic and occupational achievement.
So what can we do to prevent the negative impact of underage drinking on our youth, and the high cost of alcohol related crimes to society?
As a Parent:
1. Set and enforce standards for your adolescents and teens - let them know that underage drinking is not acceptable in your family.
2. Set a good example of healthy living.
3. Become interested and involved in your teen's activities. Know who their friends are, and who the parents of their friends are. Set rules, boundaries and curfews.
4. Never sponsor an underage drinking party for your teens, and never let them attend one. Call the parents of friends who are giving parties to find out if they are allowing alcohol to be served.
5. Get help for your teen/adolescent if you suspect that he/she is involved in drinking.
As a Business Owner of a facility that serves/sellsalcohol:
1. Do not sell or serve alcohol to teens and adolescents.
2. Do participate in identification/age checks.
3. Do train your employees to perform identity/age checks and take appropriate actions when they do not.
4. Go the extra step to prevent our teens and adolescent from obtaining alcohol, i.e., consider keg registration, and not using advertising posters or flyers that depict teens using and partying with alcohol.
As a Community:
1. Take a stand against underage drinking.
2. Propose and support legislature and local ordinances that make it harder for teens and aldolescents to obtain alcohol.
3. Do not support business that allow teens and adolescent to buy/use alcohol.
If you would like more information about the consequences of underage drinking on our youth, or would like to become more involved in preventing our youth from obtaining alcohol, please contact Linda Ravicher at 756-6453.
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