Consequences of Teen Alcohol Use Essay - 1089 Words

We live in a society that drinks heavily, and this influences teens. Most Americans use alcohol to celebrate wedding anniversaries, to welcome the New Year, and to enjoy many other special events. Alcohol is a legal drug for people over the age of twenty-one. By the time most teens reach senior high school, nearly all will have faced a choice about whether or not to take a drink. Although this drug is illegal for teenage use a large percentage of teens use alcohol. Many teens die in automobile accidents, which could have prevented if they had chosen to say no. Each year it is blame in the deaths of more than four thousand teens (Claypool, p. 42). No crime kills more teenagers in America. Kids who are drinking regularly in high school seem†¦show more content†¦Drinking will only make things worse. Many teens drink because of peer pressure or just to fit in. Kids may think that if they drink then they will fit in with the crowd and become more popular. Kids spend most of their spare time partying. The kid who doesnt take something to drink has a dozen friends all over him. This may be true for the first couple of times that you drink, but it begins to become a habit and soon you are not only drinking at parties but also drinking alone and that is a sign you need help. Teens drink for the effect. To get high, to rebel, to alter their feelings of their environment, if only temporary. One of the main reasons kids drink for effect is the freedom it gives them. A problem of drinking for effect is whatever age the child is when he starts depending on the effect of alcohol, thats the age they are when they have overcome there drinking problem. In other words, when a child is fourteen and starts drinking to become more social and relaxed, when he is eighteen he will still be fourteen socially (Coffey, p.62). Many adults fail to take teenage alcohol problems seriously because they believe that their teens are too young to worry about. To them the word alcoholic m akes them think of a malnourished person who lives on the street. Many young people live in families where the use of alcohol is a part of normal life. Many parentsShow MoreRelatedTeenagers, Drugs, And The American Academy Of Child And Adolescent Psychiatry1450 Words   |  6 Pageslegal drugs that teens experiment with: alcohol, prescription medications, inhalants (fumes from glues, aerosols, and solvents) and over-the-counter cough, cold, sleep, and diet medications. The most commonly used illegal drugs according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry are: marijuana (pot), stimulants (cocaine, crack, and speed), LSD, PCP, opiates, heroin, and designer drugs such as Ecstasy. These drugs are all dangerous and have serious consequences associated with themRead MoreEssay about Health Education Plan922 Words   |  4 Pagesawareness of the effects of drug and alcohol use amongst this vulnerable group. It will be held Sunday, April 22, 2012, from 3pm to 7pm at t he Campo YMCA in Valrico Florida. Permission from all minors has been obtained from the parents, prior to this education forum. Pizza and soda will be served after presentation. Description of Educational Need Researchers proved a long time ago that teens that drink or use drugs before age 21, will more likely develop a serious alcohol or drug related issue. BecauseRead MoreUnderage Alcohol At A Young Age : The Peak Of Growth And Self Discovery1165 Words   |  5 Pagestest new boundaries. Because of this, most teens turn to experimentation with drugs or alcohol out of curiosity and when looking for a new way to have fun. Just think, teenagers are too old for games and too young for adult activities and responsibilities. Slurring words or acting in an altered way can provide entertainment for many teens. According to the Teen Rehab Center, 68% of high school seniors have tried alcohol at some point (â€Å"Drug†). Drinking alcohol at a young age can be detrimental. For exampleRead MoreWhy Kids Turn to Drugs1524 Words   |  7 Pagesbegin using alcohol or other drugs. Many times, it is a combination of several factors, including society, family and peers. They may turn to drugs to e scape stress or loneliness or to overcome shyness in social situations. They may want to be seen as grown up or as a risk taker. Or, they may simply be curious. Teens often want to be like their role models as well. So, if their favorite music group, older sibling, parents or a cool peer at school uses drugs or alcohol, they may also use drugs or alcoholRead More why kids turn to drugs Essay1513 Words   |  7 Pagesusing alcohol or other drugs. Many times, it is a combination of several factors, including society, family and peers. They may turn to drugs to escape stress or loneliness or to overcome shyness in social situations. They may want to be seen as grown up or as a risk taker. Or, they may simply be curious. Teens often want to be like their role models as well. So, if their favorite music group, older sibling, parents or a quot;coolquot; peer at school uses drugs or alcohol, they may also use drugsRead MoreThe Dangers of Underage Drinking775 Words   |  4 PagesTeens un der the legal minimum age of alcohol should not drink, nor should it be lowered. Researchers say that giving alcoholic beverages under 21 could create a lethal addiction and would not have the responsibility to drink. If teens drink a certain amount of alcohol it could be lethal by alcohol poisoning. â€Å"Alcohol can enter the blood stream; binge drinkers can ingest a fatal dose of alcohol before passing out.† (â€Å"Binge Drinking Can Be Fatal†). The legal minimum age should not be lowered, teensRead MoreModern Teenage Issues: Sex, Drugs and Alcohol Essay984 Words   |  4 Pagesthat night, I was young and saw a cute guy (who was just as drunk as well) we started to flirt and he seemed like a nice guy. As the party came to an end, people left me and the guy had decided to crash there. That night we ended up having sex, we use a condom but the condom broke. A few weeks later I found out I was pregnant at 16, the guy ran out and wasnt there for the pregnancy nor the b irth of his son.† This story is one of the millions of stories that teenagers are able to share with theirRead MoreThe Drinking Age Should Be Lowered1599 Words   |  7 Pagesas opposed to where it is now, at twenty one. Some argue that at age eighteen, a person is legally an adult and able to go to war, vote, and partake in other adult activities. If they are an adult at this age, why are they unable to legally drink alcohol? There are numerous reasons why drinking is unsafe for those under twenty one. The drinking age is set at age twenty one for a reason, and should stay that way. Some states have experimented with the drinking age in the past, but unsuccessfully. BetweenRead MoreShould Alcohol Drinking Age Be Decreased of Increased? Essays633 Words   |  3 PagesShould alcohol drinking age be decreased of increased? In my opinion it should be decreased because if we are classified as an adult and we are allowed to get married and etc. Why are we not allowed to drink. Lowering the drinking age would teach kids how to be more responsible at a younger age. If kids are just cut off from things, they are just going to find a way around it anyway. Kids just need to learn to do things in moderation. Because unfortunate, adults arent responsible withRead MoreThe Plague Of Underage Drinking1356 Words   |  6 Pagesthe age of 21 die from an alcohol-related incident including car crashes, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning and other related injuries† ( â€Å"11 Facts About Alcohol Abuse†). That is 5,000 more teens or young adults that could be saved from this plague in this society (11 Facts About Alcohol Abuse). Underage drinking and alcoholism is a huge problem in the United States, and as a society need to make a change with how everyone sees this problem. Adults and young tee ns take this topic too lightly