Alcoholism in Teenager

From LoveToKnow Teens

For years the teen drinking scene has been portrayed in movies, and while a film like American Pie presents a comical dramatization of a high school party, the reality of alcoholism in teenagers is on display for everyone to see on the big screen.

The Statistics of Teenage Alcohol Use

A visit to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive (SAMHDA) provides a savvy researcher with all of the tools he or she needs to take a more in-depth look at the numbers related to teens and drinking. Data collected by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services in 2005 reveals that as they work their way towards and through high school, teenagers are far more likely to drink alcohol.

Of the students surveyed, a healthy 90.6% of 12-year-olds said they had never used alcohol, but this figure drops a disappointing 59.1% by the time it reaches the seniors. Only 32.5% of 17-year-olds stated that that had never used alcohol and the number of kids who had used alcohol within the past 30 days rose steadily from 2.7% of 12-year-olds up to 33.3% of 17-year-olds. The study also indicates that most teenagers take their first drink between the ages of 16 and 17 and that the guys out number girls as drinkers.

The conclusions that can be drawn from the available statistics are that the teen drinking scene maintains steady numbers as the years pass in the twenty-first century, and that most teenagers will give alcohol a shot at least once before becoming a legal adult.

The Teenager's Guide to Dealing with Destructive Decisions

As a teenager in high school you are nearing the finish line in the "race" to becoming a young adult, but it's important to remember that growing-up is not a competition between friends, classmates and other teens in your community. Alcohol use during your adolescence will not help you get into college nor will it help you get a job after graduation, but it can take away your ability to use your best judgment and make good choices for your life.

Getting Help for a Friend (or Yourself)

If you or someone you know has a drinking and/or drug problem, you are probably reading this because you need advice and someone to guide you in the right direction. Admitting the reality of alcoholism in teenagers, either in yourself or in another person, is the first step that you must take on the rocky road towards dealing with it.

After reality has sunk in about the substance abuse in your life, it's vitally important to talk about it, preferably with an adult, and especially with a parent or guardian. School counselors can also provide help and guidance towards confronting alcoholism in your life, but if you want a more private road to walk on, you can explore other avenues available to you in your community.

Alateen, a sub-division of Alcoholics Anonymous, offers support to teenagers even if they cannot attend local meetings. Teens can get the help they need through the use of electronic meetings via email, chat rooms, bulletin boards and even telephone support. Talking to others coping with alcoholism may provide you with some perspective, support and assistance in dealing with teenage drinking issues.

The links provided at the end of this article will point you in the right direction towards gathering more information and advice. You can also Ask the LTK Teen Team for advice about how to approach the issue of alcoholism in your life.

The Parent's Guide to Alcoholism in Teenagers

For parents dealing with teen drinking, it is important to remember that you were once a teenager and things aren't any easier for your children today than they were for you. Just because kids nowadays sometimes seem to "have it easier" than you did, doesn't mean that living life as a high school student is any less frustrating and stressful than it used to be. You must always try to put yourself in their shoes, even if they cannot walk a mile in yours.

Preventing and the Intervention of Teenage Alcoholism

Preventing your teen from abusing alcohol can be as easy as a heart-to-heart conversation when you feel it is appropriate. No two children are exposed to all the same things at all the same times and all kids grow up at their own pace. If you want them to make the right decisions when the time comes for them to drink or not to drink, expressing your concerns and discussing the facts with your child before the opportunity to experiment presents itself is the best way to increase their chances of saying "no" to drinking.

Open minds and open lines of communication are very important in the relationship between parents and teens; however, very few moms and dads are blessed with perfect children who walk the straight and narrow path. More often than not, parenting teens is far from a scenic drive on a country road and more like being stuck in gridlock traffic. When you add teenage alcoholism in the mix, the highway is full of speeding cars, reckless drivers and an impending feeling of doom.

If you feel you are about to merge onto the highway of teenage alcoholism, and don't know how to avoid the dangers on the road, the links below will provide you with more information and advice from professionals. Talking to other parents and guardians about their experiences with troubled teens will also help you form a plan for confronting your teenager. Use the links below to help you find a support system that works for you.