Alcoholism in Teenagers

Research studies demonstrate that alcoholism in teenagers is correlated to when they start drinking.  More specifically, the average age when teenagers first try alcohol is 13 years old for girls and 11 years old for boys. The average age at which Americans begin drinking regularly, according to these studies is 15.9 years old.

The coping mechanisms typically used by codependents are denial (I deny, change, or minimize how I truly feel), low self-esteem (I value others' approval of my feelings, actions, and thinking over my own), compliance (I am afraid to express my own opinions and feelings, especially if they are different), and control (I become resentful when others refuse my help).

According to research undertaken by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 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."

Do you drink and drive, operate machinery or mix alcohol with over-the-counter or prescription medicine?  Are you pregnant or are trying to become pregnant and drink?  Do you drink alcohol while you are in charge of the lives of small children?  Do you fail to inform your doctor that you are a regular drinker?  If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are taking risks with alcohol.

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 form 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.

In the United States, roughly 50,000 cases of alcohol poisoning are reported each year, and approximately once every week, someone dies from this preventable condition.

Teenage Drinking is a Social Activity

Research has revealed that teen drinking is mainly a social activity.  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. 

Every year in the United States, more than 500,000 people are injured in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents.

 

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 alcohol abuse by teens.  For instance, teens who have personalities that can be described as under-controlled, sensation or thrill seeking, or impulsive are considered at risk for alcohol abuse. 

“Eye-openers” are common during the third stage of alcoholism.  That is, drinks that are taken whenever the person awakens.  Eye-openers are normally taken to lessen a hangover, calm the nerves, or to quiet their feelings of remorse the drinker experiences after a period of time without a drink.

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.

Studies have shown that inpatient detoxification programs are more effective and longer lasting than outpatient detox programs.  The important issue here, however, is the following:  the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms, the more likely that inpatient detox programs should be used.

Dysfunctional Families and Teenage Alcoholism

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.

In 1998 in the United States, 1,668 drivers from the ages of 16 to 20 were involved in alcohol-related fatal motor vehicle crashes.  Another 21,000 were involved in alcohol-related accidents that resulted in injury.

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

Conclusion

As discussed above, research studies have shown that alcoholism in teenagers is related to when they start drinking. Perhaps the key statistic along these lines is the following from the NIAAA:  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.  Armed with this information, our educators, parents, and political leaders need to educate our young people on the dangers of alcohol abuse and alcoholism BEFORE they become teenagers.

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