Extreme Drinking among Children - Article Example

"Alcohol Consumption among Children" Extreme drinking is really terrible for physical and mental conditions. Alcohol increases the risk of serious illness like heart disease, liver disease, reproductive problems and memory loss. It is declared in journal of the American medical association, the death rate of Alcoholic women is comparatively greater than Alcoholic men. This journal also declares that the danger of breast cancer rises with the regular use of alcohol. Although alcohol use is ordinary among a greater part of college undergraduates (Kuther & Timoshin, 2003; Ziemelis, Bucknam, & Elfessi, 2002), a division of students busy in a type of drinking behavior that occupies great levels of alcohol use which may put them at danger for communal, mental, emotional and physical troubles. This specific type of drinking behavior has been identified in the literature as binge drinking and includes the extreme use of alcohol in short periods (Murgraff, White, & Phillips, 1996). Current approximation discovers that about 44 percent of college students are resulted to be involved in binge drinking behavior (Torr J.D., 2002). Excessive drinking is a severe problem found in numerous colleges. To tackle this problem, study has swung towards knowing why college students use alcohol at height well over secure limits on sole drinking occasions (Murgraff et al.). More particularly, there is a requirement to recognize the social-cognitive signs related to excessive drinking among college students. Youngsters drink alcoholic beverages for fun and fashion purposes but afterward they get addicted to it. Students being the most important part must be kept away from drinking and drug addictions. These habits are changing their attitudes towards their family, friends, studies and responsibilities. They are creating a severe risk to their lives and future. Annabel Boys, John Marsden and John Strang carried out a study to investigate the major reasons behind children alcohol consumption habits. They found out that 96.7% children drink while hanging out with friends and parties to enjoy those moments of life, 96.4% drink to become intoxicated, 86.8%to get rid of depression and mental stress, 88.5% adopt it from the surroundings and 88.5% to enhance an activity (Annabel Boys, John Marsden and John Strang). They also concluded that the usage of alcoholic drinks varies by the age of children and that gender also plays a vital role in its consumption. The report of Padraig Flynn, EU commissioner, presented a report "Alcohol problems in the family". The report concluded that Alcohol consumption of a child is deeply associated with the family background of the individual. Children, who face ignorant behavior of their parents, are more likely to involve in substance abuse than others. Moreover, the report also concludes that children take inspiration from their parents and elder family members; hence if the family of a child is involved in alcohol consumption the child is at a more risk of this addiction. The report further discusses the problems generated by alcohol consumption and its long lasting effects. It states that people who are highly addicted to alcohol consumption do not harm themselves but also people who are associated with them including their spouses, children, parents, friends and other family members (Alcohol Problems in the Family). Dunn and Goldman state that the use of alcoholic drinks also depends on the expectancy of individuals. Those adolescents who take drinking as an enjoyable practice are more probable to consume alcohol than those who do not (Dunn & Goldman, 1996). Lang & Strizke also declare in their study that expectancy influences the drinking habits of adolescent specially of those who are entering in their adulthood (Lang & Strizke, 1993). Dunn and Goldman in another study declare that children normally have negative views about alcohol before the age of 9 and their views convert from negative to positive by the age of 13. Their views can be controlled by proper guidance from their elders (Dunn & Goldman, 1998). Young individuals are more responsive to the positive effects of drinking, like feeling of being comfortable in social situations. They may have a relatively large amount of alcohol than adults because their maturing brain does not accept any reality unless they experience it. Their brain does not understand the possible devastating loss but consider the positive social experiences (Spear& Varlinskaya, 2005). Individuals who start drinking alcohol at a very young age, i.e. around 12, or those who are disruptive, agitated and violent or those with antisocial behaviors or disheartened, reserved or apprehensive may be at maximum threat for alcohol troubles. Some more behavioral disorders also lead children to alcohol consumption including disobedience, intolerance and carelessness of rules and coldness for others and their reactions (or dis-inhibition) (Colder & O'Connor, 2002). Another factor that supports childhood drinking practices is the hereditary factor. A children whose parents or most of the family members are alcoholic is at a high risk of alcohol problems. Children of Alcoholics are 4-10 times more probable to be alcoholics in their future than those who do not belong to a family with alcoholic members. Children of alcoholics start drinking at a very young age and step forward to drinking troubles more speedily (Russell, 1990). The genetics is not the only cause of high rate of alcohol consumption among children. Parents who have positive attitudes towards drinking are also a reason of drinking habit in their child. Media is also a factor which encourages children to adopt the drink their favorite celebrity uses as exposed in the advertisements. Children often start drinking in order to show that they have enough resources to buy a branded drink or to attract others (Austin & Knaus, 2000). Alcohol consumption is undoubtedly a great risk for youth. In order to eliminate or lessen this risk parents may play a vital role. Parents are the actual role models for children. Children are more likely to adopt behaviors and patterns of their parents. They observe the views and actions of their parents towards certain things and follow them. Parents must not just direct their children towards the right path; instead they must adopt the way to anti alcoholism and ask their children to follow. Moreover, parents must not laugh off the advertisement. Movie or clip their child is watching about alcoholism but must discuss it to let their child understand his good or bad (McCaffrey, Barry). School can be supposed as a second home for children. In order to avoid risk for children, schools must ensure that alcohol education is provided to all students. All necessary steps required to explain the negative outcomes of alcohol consumption should be taken. Students must be given proper guidance about the negative effects of alcohol on their social, personal and mental wellbeing. Children being an important part of our life must not be exposed to alcohol risks. They must be given proper time and attention. Their social needs must be fulfilled. They must not be given with an environment where they feel isolated or complexed. Parents must not threaten their children but give them reasons. Extreme drinking is really terrible for physical and mental conditions. Alcohol increases the risk of serious illness like heart disease, liver disease, reproductive problems and memory loss. Children must be provided with appropriate information about these risks. Experiences of people who suffered by alcoholism may also be discussed with children in order to create a negative impact of alcohol in their mind. People face different kinds of problems in their life like financial, business, social and health problems. They try to face these problems and to control stress and mental strain they start drinking alcohol or start smoking or feel that drug consumption may help them in reducing their mental distress. However, drugs, cigarettes and alcohol are not the solution of any problem, but are the reason of upcoming health and psychological problems. A great amount of children are addicted to alcoholic drinks, which are a chief cause of ill-health nowadays. Alcohol abuse not only affects an individual but harm the whole society or community. The people who are addicted to alcohol consumption not only waste their money and precious time due to intoxication but also leave a bad impact on their associates. Research explains that increased sales law enforcement can decrease the selling of alcohol to individuals. Plainly, setting up enforcement of lowest alcohol buying age laws is desired to make them more efficient (Grube, 1997). Alcohol consumption does not only harm an individual but the society. Alcoholism is a great threat to the youth and must be stopped for a brighter future of the youth, their family and the whole country. Alcoholism is taking the life of millions of children each year. Those precious lives must be protected by implications of new regulations in the schools. Parents must be guided in order to avoid risks of alcohol problems to their children. More emphasis should be placed on the implications of anti alcoholism. Bibliography: Dunn, M. E., and M. S. Goldman. 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