Alcohol Use in Teens

You will prepare and submit a term paper on Alcohol Use in Teens. Your paper should be a minimum of 2000 words in length.

There are many problems in terms of the health of teens that can be there because of consumption of alcohol such as liver damage, heart damage, brain damage, sexually transmitted diseases and much more (TeensHealth, 2006). “Drug use is associated with a variety of negative consequences, including increased risk of serious drug use later in life, school failure, and poor judgment which may put teens at risk for accidents, violence, unplanned and unsafe sex, and suicide” (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2008).

All the mentioned outcomes of alcohol and drug use indicate destructive consequences for the teens, their academic careers, social security and financial stability. A study by the Institute of Alcohol studies states that if for those who drink excessively in their early teens, the likelihood of drug and alcohol abuse at age 40 is strong (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2001). Drug and alcohol abuse seems to have fuelled a ‘culture of intoxication’ in the US – the urge to achieve an ‘altered state of consciousnesses among the young.

The supply and marketing of alcohol are adapting to this development (Brigman and Campbell, 2003). Short drinks packaged for rapid intoxication are currently very popular among the young. There are numerous other marketing campaigns meant to encourage young boys and girls to drink through easy availability (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2001). In fact, alcoholism may also be genetic, according to scientists in America, children having parents who are binge drinkers are more likely to become ‘alcohol – dependent’ than those whose parents did not drink (Bennett and Holloway, 2005).

Concerned ministers are considering plans to tackle this widespread problem. The Home Office plans to implement legislation on changed pub opening hours. This would discourage a single closing time and help avoid disruptive behavior (Kar, 2006).