In 2007 a Youth Risk Behavior Study showed that high school students (in the past 30 days):
- 45 percent had drank
- 26 percent had been binge drinking
- 11 percent had driven under then influence
- 29 percent had been in a car with a driver under the influence
According to the Center for Disease Control some of the consequences of teen alcohol abuse are:
- Death due to alcohol poisoning
- Memory difficulties
- Reckless sexual activities (including unplanned pregnancy)
- School absences, poor grades
- Social problems
- Assault including physical and sexual
- Interruption of normal growth and sexual development
- High risk of homicide and suicide
- Abuse of other drugs (alcohol is considered a gateway drug)
- Brain development problems that may be lasting
- Alcohol related accidents including falls, motor vehicle accidents and more
- Increased physical illnesses
Teens that start drinking before the age of 15 are 5 times more likely to have an ongoing addiction for their whole life. And those that do drink in their teen years are more likely to binge drink.
The Surgeon General as well as the Institute of Medicine have outlined many ways that communities, schools and families can help prevent and discourage underage drinking. These include campaigns to educate teens on the risks, taxes on alcohol, and more.
