Why should I be concerned?
Alcohol is the #1 drug for children and teens, and teens are drinking. One in every four 12th graders (25.1%), almost one in every five 10th graders (19.6%) and nearly one in every ten 8th graders (8.6%) reported binge drinking (consumed five or more drinks in a row in the last two weeks) risking alcohol poisoning, traffic crashes, school failure, and alcoholism. (Washington 2006 Healthy Youth Survey -HYS)
Alcohol has a greater impact on the developing teen brain. Alcohol impairs the areas that control motor coordination, impulse control, memory, and judgment. Kids who drink are at greater risk for school failure and dropping out. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration-SAMHSA)
Drinking is a fatal attraction for teens. Beer and other alcoholic drinks are implicated in the three top causes of teen deaths: accidents (including traffic fatalities and drowning), homicide, and suicide. Alcohol kills more kids than all other drugs combined. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration-SAMHSA)
Teen drinking increases the risk of STDs and pregnancy. Teens who drink are seven times more likely to engage in sex and twice as likely to have sex with four or more partners than those who do not. Such behavior can result in an increased risk of AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy. (National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse-CASA)
Underage drinking can lead to addiction. Kids who drink before age 15 are 5 times more likely to develop alcohol problems as adults. (National Institute on Drug Abuse-NIDA)
Providing alcohol at home does not keep teens safe. Teens can overdose on alcohol just as easily at home and, along with their parents, can be liable for property damage, assault, injuries, and deaths that result from underage drinking at their home.
The good news is that parents are the #1 influence on their kids. The key reason kids give for not drinking is that they don’t want to disappoint their parents (Monitoring the Future survey). Parents can protect their kids from drinking by:
- Not accepting alcohol as a rite of passage to adulthood
- Setting clear rules about not drinking
- Helping their children deal with peer pressure
- Being a good role model by showing that you don’t need a drink to relax or celebrate
- Talking with them early and often about the ways alcohol can harm them, and being a good listener
- Staying involved in their lives
- Knowing who their friends are, and where they are going
- Getting help fast if your teen is already drinking or dependent on alcohol. Call the Alcohol/Drug Helpline for free confidential information and referrals: 1-800-562-1240.
