Adolescent Development Issues - Research Paper Example

? Adolescent Development The paper explores the adverse health effects of alcohol consumption by adolescents on their development. With the emergence of globalization and modernization, the underage alcohol consumption has propagated in the global society as a severe cause of concern. The findings of the study reveal certain statistics and facts about the underage alcohol consumption with the American society. Furthermore, it has been analyzed that around 4700 deaths per year occur due to alcohol consumption by the adolescents in the US. The study also reveals the homicide and the suicidal facts, which are associated with the underage drinking and alcohol abuse. The study further ascertains the beliefs of the Christian community. It has been ascertained that alcohol consumption is not off limit for the Christian community. Introduction Alcohol, in recent scenario, has become the favorite ‘drug of choice’ amidst the adolescents and youth. A major proportion of young people are immensely experiencing the adverse effects of drinking alcohol at an early age. This scenario has further resulted in bringing about health issues pertaining to underage drinking. In recent observations, it has been ascertained that around 5000 youths who are mainly under the age of 21 years died due to drinking in the year 2006 in the United States. Moreover, the statistics reveal that in 2006 in the US, out of 5000 deaths, about 1900 were caused due to accidents, 1600 due to homicide, 300 deaths were reported due to committing suicide as well as the rest suffered from severe diseases, which ultimately caused their death (NIH, 2006). Observational findings reveal that adolescents, who become addicted towards drinking alcohol, are likely to suffer from mental disorders. Various disorder problems, which the adolescents face, include mood disorder, anxiety disorder and the antisocial disorders (Clark & Bukstein, 1998). With these considerations, the study intends to discuss the adverse impacts of alcohol abuse on adolescent development. Furthermore, the study will also explore the origin of the issue, the statistics and facts along with figures to analyze the intensity of the damage caused by underage drinking and possible solutions to mitigate such adversity. Christian worldview regarding the issue also is a vital part of the study. Origin of the Issue Considering the issue of underage drinking, its origin mainly emerges with the advent of globalization. Correspondingly, in earlier period, drinking alcohol at the phase of adolescents was legally banned, which restricted the commoners from consumption. However, with the passing years and advent of modernization, the legal system in the nations such as US relieved the banned, which initiated the youth to indulge in alcohol drinking from a relatively tender age. Recent observations and survey reports have depicted that in the US the average allowed age for girl is 13 and that of boy is 11 years for consuming alcohol without any legal restrictions (NIH, 2013). With regard to the colonial times of the American society, drinking used to be a crucial part of the culture. It has been further noted that in late 1960s and early 1970s, many of the states had gradually lowered the minimum drinking age from 21 to 18 years. This scenario has laid an immense adverse effect on the youth. In terms of a crucial adverse impact, the traffic fatalities amidst the youth mainly increased due to alcoholic consumption while driving. Considering the matter seriously, in 1988, all the states adopted the minimum age for consumption of alcohol as 21 years. Nevertheless, underage consumption of alcohol remains an inherent and integrated problem, which lays greater impact on health consequences. In-spite of introducing laws and prevention programs, the rate of the underage consumption of alcohol has accelerated in the present scenario (NIH, 2013). Thus, it can be affirmed that the consumption of alcohol has remained a prevalent problem since ages, through it has contributed towards increasing criticalities amidst youth in the recent scenario with the advent of globalization and modernization. Statistics and Facts Reviewing the statistical information and facts related to underage drinking or alcohol abuse by adolescents, it has been apparently observed that the alcohol has emerged as the commonly used drug amidst the youth of the United States. It has been further ascertained that around 4700 deaths each year usually occur due to consumption of alcohol. In-spite of legal implications on the minimum age limit as 21 years for drinking, it has been observed that out of the 11% of all alcohol consumption, the age group 12 to 20 years consumes more in the US. Furthermore, 90% of the alcohol consumption is mainly in the form of ‘Binge drink’. On an average, it has been further determined that underage drinkers mainly consume a major proportion of Binge drink as compared to adults. Correspondingly, in 2010, approximately 189,000 emergency rooms had been mainly visited by the underage alcohol consumption groups (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). With reference to recent scenarios, in 2011, a survey was conducted by ‘Youth Risk Behavior’ that highlighted that amidst the high school students 39% consume alcohol, 22% of the students go for ‘Binge drinks’, 8% of them drove after consuming alcohol and 24% of the students drove with another person who also had consumed alcohol. These figures depict the intensity of alcohol consumption amidst youth in the US. Correspondingly in 2011, a survey held by ‘National Survey on Drug Use and Health’ reported that around 25% of the youth aged within 12 to 20 years consume alcohol and around 16% of them opt for ‘Binge drinks’. Furthermore, in same year, ‘Monitoring the Future Survey’ revealed that 33% of the students of 8th grade and 70% of the 12th grade ‘had tried alcohol’ whereas the recent records suggest that around 13% and 40% of the 8th and the 12th graders respectively have been found consuming alcohol (Witte & Mitchell, 2013; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Thus, these facts and statistics signify that the accelerated consumption of alcohol by adolescents and its adverse impacts on health issues has emerged as a critical concern for the present society (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Possible Solution Underage drinking proves to be a concern in terms of raising immense health issues, which is affecting the health and safety of the US communities. There is an increasing need to ascertain possible solutions to curb the unprecedented rise in alcohol consumption by youth. In the general context, the decision of youths is greatly influenced by numerous factors surrounding them. Parents’ influence is considered as a positive and intuitive motivation for the youth. Parents play a vital role in motivating youth to reduce alcohol consumption. Concerning the parents influence, they can prevent adolescent drinking by spending a significant portion of their valuable time with the children and trying to understand their needs and preferences. It is imperative for parents to keep a track of the emerging concerns of the adolescents in schools, colleges along with their social life that might drive them to take shelter from their troubles by engaging in alcohol consumption. It is important for the parents to convey the ill- effects and critical health issues related with the consumption of the alcohol. Furthermore, the parents can take initiatives to create a friendly environment for the adolescents to have fun without consuming alcohol. Moreover, implementing along with enforcing social host regulations will assist the elders in influencing the youths to change their norms related to consumption of alcohol. Framing of strong legal enforcements can emerge as a vital factor in reducing the consumption of alcohol by adolescents in the US societal context (Komro & Toomey, 2002). Observational context has revealed that accelerated alcohol usage within the adolescents is mainly associated with the emotional and the behavioral problems. Therefore, it is the responsibility and the goal of the Public Health Service to ensure the reduction of alcohol usage at an early stage. Various school strategies such as interactive teaching mechanism and cultural sensitivity among others might be beneficial to reduce the consumption of alcohol by the adolescents. Thus, these are the various possible solution focused strategies that can be implemented in order to reduce the adverse health effects of alcohol consumption within underage group (Komro & Toomey, 2002). Christian Worldview of Alcohol Abuse In the present scenario, the major disquiet of all law abiding citizens of America is drug and alcohol related addictions. From numerous observations, it has been established that this major concern does not lie only with the Christian community but it is a vital issue for all the communities as statistics have revealed that around 10,000 people die every year on a global basis due to alcohol consumption. Recently, it has been affirmed that Christians now-a-days are quite concerned about the impact, which alcohol consumption lies upon the church. A number of Christian believers discourage alcohol use and encourage people to avoid drunkenness. It has been further revealed that according to the Christian beliefs, they can drink in restraint manner and wisely. In essence, it can be conveyed that consumption of alcoholic beverages is not totally off limit for the Christian community (Mcbride, n.d.). Conclusion In accordance with the aforesaid study, it can be ascertained that alcohol consumption is drastically affecting the health condition of the young generation. In accordance with the present day context, it is observed that alcohol abuse amid adolescents has accelerated to a greater extent. Alcohol consumption had gained momentum in the society as a cultural constituent since the advent of globalization and modernization. In America, the issue of alcohol abuse is increasingly becoming a critical concern for the society as the death toll due to alcohol consumption is rising exponentially. Statistical figures depict that a majority of deaths in recent past has occurred due to alcohol abuse by adolescents. It has become necessary for the government and the public health groups to ensure reduction in the alcohol consumptions within underage group. The study also revealed the impact of alcohol abuse upon the Christian believers and their perception about the issue. Furthermore, it has been ascertained that in Christian community alcohol consumption is not totally off limit. Thus, the research study has facilitated to reveal the graveness of the issue of alcohol abuse by adolescents and its adverse effects on the societal context. References Clark, D. B., & Bukstein, G. (1998). Psychopathology in adolescent alcohol abuse and dependence. Alcohol Health & Research World, 22(2), 117-121. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Fact sheets - underage drinking. Alcohol and Public Health. Komro, K. A., & Toomey, T. L. (2002). Strategies to prevent underage drinking. National Institute Of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Mcbride, D. C. (n.d.). The sociological imagination and a Christian worldview. The Institute For Christian Teaching, 18, 355-358. NIH. (2006). Underage drinking. Retrieved from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA67/AA67.htm NIH. (2013). Underage drinking. Retrieved from http://report.nih.gov/nihfactsheets/viewfactsheet.aspx?csid=21 Witte, P. D., & Mitchell, M. C. (2013). Underage drinking a report on drinking in the second decade of life in Europe and North America. France: Presses univ. de Louvain. Read More