Teenage Alcoholism

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Research studies have shown that teenage alcoholism is correlated to the age at which teens start drinking and to the amount and the frequency of their drinking. More precisely, the average age when teenagers first try alcohol is 11 years old for boys and 13 years old for girls.

In addition, the average age at which Americans begin drinking regularly is 15.9 years old.  The earlier teenagers drink, the more they drink, and the more frequently they drink, the greater the probability that they will suffer from teenage alcoholism.  Based on this information, it is apparent that underage drinking is a serious issue that requires immediate attention.

Teenage Alcoholism and Recent Research Findings

According to research undertaken by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, teens who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop a dependency on alcohol than those who begin drinking at 21 years of age.

In fact, according to Joseph A. Califano, Chairman and President of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, "a child who reaches age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol or using drugs is virtually certain never to do so." 

In a 1996 report done by the Department of Health and Human Services, the following was discovered:

1. Most teens don't know the strengths of different alcoholic drinks.  For instance, the alcohol content is different in wine, beer, wine coolers, and whiskey.  And to complicate matters, each type of alcoholic beverage can contain different amounts of alcohol.  For example, some beer has a low percentage of alcohol while others have two or three times the alcoholic content.

2. 33% of the teens surveyed did not understand the intoxicating effects of alcohol.

3. 80% of teens do not know that a shot of whiskey has the same amount of alcohol as a 12-ounce can or bottle of beer.

Teenage Alcoholism: A Social Activity

Research has revealed that teen drinking and teenage alcoholism are mainly social activities.  In fact, teens rarely drink alone.  Stated differently, the more a teen drinks, the more likely their drinking will be with other teens.  There are, however, many other reasons besides peer influence that lead to teen drinking and teenage alcoholism.

Teenage Alcoholism and Personality Traits

Indeed, the social environment and media influences may also play a key role in a teen's decision to drink.  These external factors, on the other hand, do not explain the whole picture.  That is, according to alcohol and drug addiction experts, various personality traits have been identified that can lead to teen alcohol abuse and teenage alcoholism.  For example, teens who have personalities that can be described as sensation or thrill seeking, impulsive, or under-controlled are considered to be at risk for alcohol abuse and/or alcoholism.

Teenage Alcoholism and Psychological Problems

Other teens who openly reject authority figures or who can't wait to grow up often drink excessively.  Not only this, but emotional problems can also lead to drug and alcohol use.  In fact, a study done in the mid-1990s revealed that two-thirds of the teens surveyed stated that they use drugs and alcohol to help them forget their problems.

One of the main psychological problems faced by teens that can lead to drinking is the dysfunctional nature of their family lifestyle.  Teens with parents who face financial or relationship problems may start drinking for comfort.  Not only this, but if one or both of the teens' parents are alcoholic, according to one study, teens may be up to seven times more likely to become alcoholics themselves as compared with teens who have nonalcoholic parents.

More Teenage Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Statistics

In a some fairly recent studies the following statistics about teens and drinking alcohol were discovered:

• Half of the teens in one survey stated that in the 30 days before the survey, they drank alcohol and one-third of them said that they got drunk on at least one occasion.
• Teens who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than teens who never consume alcohol.
• Teens who consume numerous alcoholic drinks in one sitting (known as "binge drinking") skip school twice as often as teens who do no engage in binge drinking. Almost one-third of high school seniors surveyed stated that they had five or more alcoholic drinks during one drinking episode during the past two-week period.
• In a one year period of time, 10.6 million teens in grades seven through twelve consumed more than one billion cans of been.
• In one survey it was found that 10 million youth between the ages of 12 and 20 drank some sort of alcohol in the month prior to the survey.
• One in four high school seniors reported drinking some kind of alcoholic beverage on a daily basis.
• Teens have stated that other people's homes is the most common setting for drinking.
• When asked, 33% of sixth and ninth graders said that they get their alcohol from their own homes.
• Lifetime alcohol abuse is greatest for those who begin drinking at the age of 14.
• 40 percent of teens who begin drinking at 13 years of age or younger will develop an alcohol addiction later in life.
• Alcohol kills 6-1/2 times more teens than all of the other illicit drugs combined.
• Teens in grades 7 through 12 consume 35% of the wine coolers sold in the United States.
• Teens who binge drink receive C's or lower twice as often as teens who do not abuse alcohol.
• 10% of teens who start drinking alcohol after 17 years of age will develop alcohol dependence.

What Makes Up One Drink?

Since one drink is defined as containing one-half of an ounce of pure ethyl alcohol, each of the following is considered to be one drink:

• 10 ounces to 12 ounces of beer at 4% to 5% alcohol content
• 8 ounces to 12 ounces of wine cooler at 4% to 5% alcohol content
• 4 ounces to 5 ounces of table wine at 9% to 12% alcohol content
• 2.5 ounces of fortified wine at 20% alcohol content
• 1.25 ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits at 40% alcohol content
• 1 ounce of 100 proof distilled spirits at 50% alcohol content

Teenage Alcoholism:  Conclusion

Research studies have revealed the following teenage alcoholism facts: First, teenage alcoholism and alcohol abuse have been increasing as well as occurring at earlier ages.  Second, teenagers who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop a dependency on alcohol than those who begin drinking at 21 years of age.  Obviously, underage drinking is a major problem that needs immediate attention.

Equipped with this information, our parents, educators, and political leaders need to educate and inform our young people about the dangers and the unhealthy consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism BEFORE they become teenagers.

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