This • Research shows that adolescents are more likely was done to reduce high rates of to develop alcohol dependency issues when they 8 alcohol-related problems like drunk begin drinking early. driving crashes, fights, domestic violence, and sexual assaults, all • A “trickle down” effect, in which older teens provide alcohol to younger adolescents, has been alcohol-related problems.5 found when the MLDA is lowered.9 Justice (2005) Youth Drinknal/122600955/abstract • “The problem, of course, is 1 U.S. Dept. ofProblems: A Comparison ing Rates and 9 Wagenaar, A. C., Toomey, T. L. (2002). “Effects of minimum drinking age laws: that physical ability alone is too of European Countries and the United States. Prepared by Joel Grube, PhD.
[23][36] MLDA 21 exerts valuable social pressure on potential underage drinkers. Youth may choose not to drink, or to drink less often, because of decreased social acceptability or increased risks from parental or legal authorities. Older youth and adults may furnish alcoholic beverages to minors less frequently, and licensed alcohol outlets may sell to minors less frequently, because of their perceptions that it is illegal, morally wrong, or because they might be caught.
They learn how to control their drinking and what to expect from the effects of the alcohol (Nayak 141-142). This may be true for some parts of the world, but it does not deem overall success in achieving overall healthy drinking habits. It still leads to harm development and early age drinking still has potential to raise the risk of alcohol abuse in adult life. As an example, by Wechsler and Nelson, most European countries have lower drinking ages, this has resulted in a rise of drinking problems among teens and the amount of binge drinking is doubled that of the U.S. When New Zealand lowered their drinking age in 1999, they were definite increases in the number of emergency injury influenced by alcohol, as well as the higher rate of
Teen drinking is one of the leading causes to deaths and can also cause damages on growth and health for them. The consumption of alcohol in adolescents has a different effect on them then it does for a grown man or woman. Califano proves Reid’s idea that the English and Europeans have fewer drinking problems than we do in the states to be wrong by stating, “British fifteen and sixteen year olds were more than twice as likely as Americans to binge drink (50% vs. 24%) and to have been intoxicated within the past thirty day (48% vs. 21%).” Continuing to support this he uses another statistic by The World Health Organization that found that British boys and girls were far likelier than U.S. equals to have been drunk twice or more by the age fifteen. After discussing how with a lower drinking age teens will drink more often, Califano then goes on to talk about the consequences that teen drinking has on their growth and health issues. One fact he presents is that even a teen drinking at a responsible rate can cause damage in the brain that is long term and irreversible.
Many believe that reducing the drinking age would be an opportunity to increase safety in under-twenty-one drinkers, and reduce yearly fatalities. “In 1999…New Zealand lowered the drinking age from 20 to 18 and…alcohol-related crashes involving 15-to-19-year-olds subsequently fell” (Sanghavi). Public safety is better now than it was in 1984, “thanks to the effective public advocacy of organizations [such as] Mothers Against Drunk Driving” (McCardell). Also, “we are far more aware of the risks of drinking and driving” and “[a]utomobiles are much safer” (McCardell). “Alcohol related fatalities have declined over the past 25 years…in all age groups” (McCardell).
During adolescence, one’s brain goes through major changes that include physiological, psychological, and social changes (Crego 2). This is one reason the drinking age should be raised. The raise in the drinking age would help prevent problems and set-backs to the student during the sensitive time of adolescence. Functions such as attention, working memory, planning, problem solving, and inhibitory control are developing during adolescence and can be harmed if students drink (Crego 2). According to Crego, “Given the extent of brain maturation occurring during this phase in life, adolescents who use substances appear to be vulnerable to alterations in brain functioning, cognition and behavior, and alcohol use may
This sends a conflicting message to the young person, that drinking is permissible at an earlier age than 21. Scientists conclude that early drinking by adolescents increases the lifetime likelihood of alcohol dependence, and that overall drinking levels in a society are directly linked to drinking problems (NIAA p. 2). The peers of an individual can also have a strong influence upon drinking habits. A person is likely to behave according to their friends’ standards in order fit in and be accepted. If peers encourage others to drink alcohol underage, often teens will drink to feel more accepted by their peers.
Children who have parents that abused drugs or alcohol are at a much higher risk of becoming addicts. Research has shown that alcoholism in particular has a very strong genetic factor. A parent who is permissive about substance abuse is likely to send a message to their children that this kind of behavior is alright. Most children feel that if their parents do it, it must be acceptable (“ Children of Addict Parents”, 2005).
Teenage Drinking Raising the drinking age to 25 years old will prevent teenage drinking. “The strongest evidence for reducing alcohol-related harm is by increasing the price and reducing the availability”(Raising legal). Alcohol is a dangerous drug that causes accidents and deaths every year. Every year there are records of driving while intoxicated for under age drinkers. So raising the age of which you can consume alcohol will result in less accidents and deaths caused by drinking.
In addition, this essay provides us with some of the effects of substance abuse during adolescence. Solutions of how to avoid and deal with the problem are also discussed. Substance abuse is highly associated with peer pressure, family that does not support their children, low self-esteem, curiosity and psychological pressure. These reasons if taken seriously may eliminate the risk of substance use. Keywords: Adolescence –Substance abuse-Family-Peers-School.