Underage Drinking - Research Paper Example

Running head: Underage Drinking Social Problems: Underage Drinking Introduction “Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking; this includes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, 1,600 as a result of homicides, 300 from suicide, as well as hundreds from other injuries such as falls, burns, and drowning”(Alcohol Alert, 2006). Underage drinking is a big social problem not only in America, but all over the world as well. It is difficult for even the adults to control their emotions under the influence of alcohol. The case is even worst in the case of underage people. Because of lack of maturity, children engage in antisocial activities like violence, fights, sex abuse, etc apart from causing serious vehicle accidents. Alcoholism and binge drinking habits are growing among teenagers because of a variety of reasons ranging from family to the society. Most of the parents in America are professionals nowadays and they may not get enough time to look after the needs of the children. The lack of care, attention and supervision from family is a major cause of alcoholism among teenagers. This paper briefly analyses the social problem, underage drinking, its causes, consequences and prevention strategies. Alcoholism among teenagers: Reasons As children move from adolescence to young adulthood, they encounter dramatic physical, emotional, and lifestyle changes. Developmental transitions, such as puberty and increasing independence, have been associated with alcohol use. So in a sense, just being an adolescent may be a key risk factor not only for starting to drink but also for drinking dangerously (Alcohol Alert, 2006). Adolescent period is supposed to be the most dangerous period of human life. The making or breaking of a person normally happens during this period. Because of the influence of developmental transitions, lot of physical and cognitive changes occur during this period. Teenagers will exhibit a sense of urgency to free from all the tie ups during this period. They want to enjoy life and there are chances of breaking the restrictions enforced upon them during this period. Drinking is normally prohibited for them and they may feel that it is an injustice. It is quiet possible that under the influence of either friends, or other antisocial elements they may start drinking during this period. They wanted to prove a point in front of others that they also became adults and have the capacity to enjoy a drink. Heredity, environment and personality disorders may also serve as reasons for underage drinking. Children of alcohol addicted parents may have increased tendency to start drinking at an early age. Same way, children living in an environment suitable to drinking may also develop drinking habits. In some cases, personality disorders can also cause binge drinking among teenagers. The stress level of modern generation has attained fearful proportions and it is immense among the teenagers also. The rapid and changing t life standards and the changes in the family structure all contribute immensely to the alarming levels of stress among teenagers. In order to escape from stress teenagers often make use of alcohol. For them the mood created with the help of alcohol will help them to stay away from the realities of life at least for a temporary period. Alcoholism among teenagers: Consequences It is a fact that teenage females are not behind the teenage males in consuming alcohols. Females are more vulnerable to the negative effects of alcoholism. Teenage females under alcohol influence may be sexually abused by antisocial elements which may result in unwanted pregnancies and psychological problems. “Alcohol use during the teen years can not only lead to subsequent alcohol problems, it can also lead to risky sexual behavior and a greater risk of early childbearing” (Reproductive Dysfunctions and Alcohol Dependence Linked Among Women, 2008) The female fertility rate will be considerably reduced due to alcohol addiction. The alcohol addicted female teenagers may have delayed pregnancy even after they grown up. Studies have shown that miscarriage rate is more in the case of alcohol addicted women compared to normal women. Moreover, menstrual and sexual problems can also develop among females due to alcoholism. Complications during and after the delivery is another problem associated with teenage female alcoholism. Ogle, & Miller (2004) have pointed out that alcohol addiction strongly associated with interpersonal aggression and violence. It indirectly causes aggression through its effects on cognitive processing (Ogle, & Miller, 2004). Teenagers are normally aggressive compared to adults. Alcoholism may increase the aggressiveness even further. There are many stories erupting from American and other European campuses in which students shoot their friends under the influence of alcohol. Self control will be lost under the influence of alcohol. The realization of the good and evil will be feeble under the influence of alcohol which encourage aggression and subsequent violence. Alcoholism can cause physical and mental problems to the teenagers apart from the social problems they generated under the influence of alcohol. The most common physical health problems associated with alcohol consumption are may include liver problems, pancreas problems, epilepsy, alcoholic dementia, heart disease, cancer, nutritional deficiencies, sexual dysfunction etc. Moreover, psychological problems like anxiety, depression, psychosis, schizophrenia etc are also found to be associated with binge drinkers. The statistics given in the appendix (see the appendix given below references) clearly shows the vehicle accidents and fatalities caused by binge drinkers. Both body and mind will be out of control at the time of driving vehicle under the influence of alcohol. The driver might not be able to derive the much needed body mind coordination during driving under the influence of alcohol and accidents would be the outcome. Apart from the driver, innocent people also forced to finish their lives because of the drunk driving. Alcoholism among teenagers: Remedial measures Hanson (2007) has mentioned so many remedial measures to decrease the drinking habits among teenagers. In his opinion, social norms marketing technique has repeatedly proven effective in reducing the use and abuse of alcohol among young people. It’s based on the fact that the vast majority of youths greatly exaggerate in their minds the quantity and frequency of drinking among their peers. Therefore, they tend to drink -- or drink more -- than they would otherwise, in an effort to “fit in” (Hanson, 2007). Most of the youths may spread false data about the quantity of alcohol consumed by them in order to get recognition among peers. They are of the false belief that too much alcohol consumption is an indicator of once capacity. In fact it is possible even for a weak person to drink more. Awareness programs at school and college campuses to eliminate false beliefs and to spread the consequences of binge drinking might be effective up to certain extent. It is impossible to force a person to stop drinking. The person himself should think of the dangers associated with his bad habits and only he can help him in coming out from alcoholism. “Another technique that has repeatedly proven effective in reducing alcohol use and abuse is known as Brief Intervention, typically as part of Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students” (Hanson, 2007). Campuses should strictly enforce screening of people in order to eliminate the drinkers from campuses. Breathing analyser like equipments must be used in order to identify drinkers before they enter the school or college campuses. If found drunk the campus authorities should take strong actions against the drunk students. Students should not be allowed to drink inside the college campus under any circumstances. Conclusions Underage drinking is a big headache across the world. Underage drinking is usually occurring because of the lack of parental controls. Underage drinking destroys the physical and psychological health apart from contributing lot of social and family problems. Liver problems, pancreas problems, epilepsy, alcoholic dementia, heart disease, cancer, nutritional deficiencies, sexual dysfunction etc are some of the physical problems associated with alcohol addiction whereas psychological problems like anxiety, depression, psychosis, schizophrenia etc are also associated with alcohol addiction. Aggression and violence, accidents due to drunk driving etc are other social problems caused by alcoholism. Female alcoholism is more dangerous than male alcoholism because of the damage alcohol can done to the reproductive system of females. College campuses must enforce screening in order to identify drinkers and under no circumstance, a student should not be allowed to enter the college campus under the influence of alcohol. References 1. 2008 Drunk Driving Statistics, (2008), Retrieved on 29 April 2010 from http://www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving-statistics.html 2. Alcohol Alert, (2006), Underage Drinking , Retrieved on 29 April 2010 from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa67/aa67.htm 3. Hanson David J., Ph.D. (2007) Binge Drinking Prevention: Facts & Information Retrieved on April 29, 2010 from http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/YouthIssues/1104367780.html 4. Ogle, Richard L. & Miller, William R. (2004), The effects of alcohol intoxication and gender on the social information processing of hostile provocations involving male and female provocateurs, Retrieved on 29 April 2010 from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-113681416.html 5. Reproductive Dysfunctions and Alcohol Dependence Linked Among Women, (2008), Retrieved on 29 April 2010 from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/118956.php Appendix Drinking and driving fatalities by state in 2008 (ranked by highest number of alcohol-related* deaths): State Total Fatalities Alcohol-Related Fatalities Number Percent Texas 3,382 1,463 43 California 3,434 1,198 35 Florida 2,978 1,041 35 Pennsylvania 1,468 578 39 North Carolina 1,433 500 35 Georgia 1,493 489 33 South Carolina 920 463 50 Illinois 1,043 434 42 Ohio 1,190 415 35 New York 1,231 409 33 Louisiana 912 404 44 Tennessee 1,035 386 37 Alabama 966 367 38 Virginia 824 365 44 Missouri 960 364 38 Michigan 980 331 34 Arizona 937 329 35 Mississippi 783 297 38 Oklahoma 749 274 37 Indiana 814 250 31 Wisconsin 605 250 41 Kentucky 826 226 27 Washington 521 225 43 Arkansas 600 205 34 Colorado 548 202 37 New Jersey 590 197 33 Maryland 591 186 31 Minnesota 456 161 35 Oregon 416 159 38 Kansas 385 157 41 Massachusetts 363 151 42 West Virginia 380 142 37 Nevada 324 121 37 New Mexico 366 118 32 Iowa 412 113 27 Connecticut 264 104 40 Montana 229 103 45 Idaho 232 93 40 Nebraska 208 75 36 Wyoming 159 75 47 Utah 275 55 20 New Hampshire 139 53 38 North Dakota 104 52 50 Hawaii 107 50 46 Delaware 121 49 40 Maine 155 47 30 South Dakota 119 41 34 Rhode Island 65 29 45 Alaska 62 24 38 Vermont 73 15 21 Dist of Columbia 34 13 39 National 37,261 13,846 37 Puerto Rico 399 162 41 (2008 Drunk Driving Statistics, 2008) Read More