Alcohol use is one
of the largest public health issues for the 12-20 year old
population in America and, each year, approximately five thousand
individuals under the age of 21 die in the United States as a result
of underage drinking. Early alcohol use has also been associated
with increased violent behavior, promiscuity, risky sexual behavior, and
suicide.
A recent study by
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, found
that of the 10 million underage drinkers in the United States,
nearly 40% receive their alcohol free of charge from an adult, and
28% got their alcohol from a family member. The percentage of
underage individuals who actually steal liquor from their parent’s
is only 4%.
In general, it was
found that 54% of teens aged 12-20 have consumed alcohol at least
once in their lifetime. For the purposes of the report, their
alcohol consumption was also classified as current use (in the past
month), binge drinking (5 or more drinks on one occasion), or heavy
drinking (5 or more days of binge drinking in a month). Within all
ages reported, 28% were classified as current users, 19% are binge
drinkers, and 6.2% are heavy drinkers.
It was also
reported that, for the most part, males consume more alcohol than
females and underage alcohol use is higher in non-Hispanic whites
than in Hispanics, blacks, or American Indians. Additionally,
family income and geographical location seem to play a role in
underage drinking habits.
Twelve to fourteen
year olds who drank at home, drank an average of 2.2 drinks during
their last occasion, where as the those who drank away from home
averaged 3.4 drinks during each occasion. The number of drinks does
seem to increase with age, but, in all age groups, it was found that
teens tend to drink mostly at home or in someone else’s home. The
group of 15-17 year olds averaged 3.6 drinks in their home, and 4.7
drinks at someone else’s house and the group of 18-20 year olds
averaged 4.4 drinks at home, and 5.2 drinks if they were elsewhere.
Of those
individuals who partake in underage drinking, over one-third who
used alcohol in the last month will have also used an illicit drug.
The most popular drug used by this population was marijuana,
followed by various pain relievers.1
1Underage
Alcohol Use: Findings from the 2002-2006 National Surveys on Drug
Use and Health” Department of Health and Human Services
June 2008, pp. 1-120
