Teen Drinking: Cause and Effect - Essay Example

Teen Drinking: Cause and Effect Adolescence is a period where there is rapid development and changes that happen to youngsters. It is during this period that teenagers are believed to have a need to test their independence and rights. It is also during this stage of development that an interplay of internal and external factors influence and impact teenagers’ daily activities that make them prone to try new things: experiment on the latest fad, satisfy their curiosity on drugs, smoking, or alcohol.

In this regard, the essay aims to determine the causes and effects of teenage drinking and eventually propose recommendations to prevent its ill effects. In the United States, “federal law establishes 21 as the national minimum drinking age. Underage drinking is also governed by state laws, which vary by state. In some states, it is a civil offense and in some states it is a criminal offense” (US Legal par. 1). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified underage drinking as a major health problem with clearly identified risks.

Accordingly, the CDC cited Eaton, Kann and Kinchen as indicating that: “the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that among high school students, during the past 30 days: 42% drank some amount of alcohol; 24% binge drank; 10% drove after drinking alcohol; and 28% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol” (Eaton, Kann and Kinchen 1). Other relevant surveys cited by the CDC reveal the following facts: In 2008 the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 28% of youth aged 12 to 20 years drink alcohol and 19% reported binge drinking (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 3).

In 2009, the Monitoring the Future Survey reported that 37% of 8th graders and 72% of 12th graders had tried alcohol, and 15% of 8th graders and 44% of 12th graders drank during the past month (Johnston et al. 1). Due to the alarming statistics revealed by national surveys on teenage drinking, it is imperative to determine the causes and effects of this dilemma. Causes of Teenage Drinking According to MedicineNet, the causes for teenage drinking are predominantly family risk factors and individual risk factors.

For family risk factors, the following were identified: “low levels of parent supervision or communication, family conflicts, inconsistent or severe parental discipline, and a family history of alcohol or drug abuse” (MedicineNet 3). On the other hand, some factors particularly identified to the individual are “problems managing impulses, emotional instability, thrill-seeking behaviors, and perceiving the risk of using alcohol to be low” (MedicineNet 3). The website likewise revealed that there are increased tendencies for girls and teens with mothers having drinking problems to develop alcoholism.

Another finding was the link between close relationships with the mother precludes developing drinking problems, especially for the 16 to 18 year-old group range. Effects of Teenage Drinking The CDC has effectively enumerated consequences of teenage drinking, as follows: school problems, such as higher absence and poor or failing grades; social problems, such as fighting and lack of participation in youth activities; legal problems, such as arrest for driving or physically hurting someone while drunk; physical problems, such as hangovers or illnesses; unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity; disruption of normal growth and sexual development; physical and sexual assault; higher risk for suicide and homicide; alcohol-related car crashes and other unintentional injuries, such as burns, falls, and drowning; memory problems; abuse of other drugs; changes in brain development that may have life-long effects; and death from alcohol poisoning (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) par. 4). Recommendation Given the identified causes and effects of teenage drinking, families, especially mothers are encouraged to develop close relationships with teenaged children so that any perceived drinking predispositions could immediately be addressed.

Aside from family assistance and support, the CDC identified community based interventions to vigilantly monitor teenage activities to decrease access to alcohol. As federal and state laws have already identified the minimum age of 21 as the legal drinking age, community organizations should provide support and adherence to the law by limiting alcohol outlets especially within defined school premises and enforcing strict observance of sale of alcohol by asking for proper identifications. Conclusion Adolescence could be a challenging and trying period for youngsters as they explore the world to satisfy their curiosity.

It is during this critical stage of development that parents, teachers and community groups must be more vigilant in monitoring their activities to ensure that the experiences they meet are lived to learn positive lessons that would assist in their holistic development to prepare them for adulthood. Works Cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fact Sheets: Underage Drinking. 20 July 2010. Web. 27 June 2011 . Eaton, DK, et al. "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2009.

" CDC Morb Mort Surveil Summ (2010): 59(SS-5):1–148. Johnston, LD, et al. Teen Marijuana Use Tilts Up, While Some Drugs Decline in Use. 14 December 2009. Web. 27 June 2011 . MedicineNet. Alcohol and Teens. 2011. Web. 27 June 2011 . Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. 2009. Web. 27 June 2011 . US Legal. Underage Drinking Law and Legal Definition. 2011. Web. 27 June 2011 .