Preventing Alcohol Abuse Among Adolescent Girls Peter D. Rogers, MD, MPH

Underage alcohol use is more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined. Alcohol Alert April, 2003

Every day approximately 7,000 young people under 16 years take their first drink of alcohol. Underage Drinking in the United States: A Status Report Center for Alcohol Marketing and Youth 2005

Each year more than 4,000 young people under the age of 21 years die as a result of alcohol abuse. CDC-MMWR 2004 53:866-870

In 2004, NIAAA launched its Underage Drinking Research Initiative and the data from this are in publication.

“The highest prevalence of alcohol dependence in the U. S “The highest prevalence of alcohol dependence in the U.S. population occurs in youth/young adults ages 18-20 years.”* *Underage Drinking Research Initiate. NIAAA 2007

“Binge Drinking” Girls – 4 or more drinks in less than 2 hrs Boys – 5 or more drinks in less than 2 hrs -Both lead to a BAC of at least .08 mg/ml if consumed on an empty stomach within 3 hours of consumption. Underage Drinking Research Initiate. NIAAA 2007

Prevalence of HS Students (by gender) who binge drink in the past 2 weeks (%) – 2006 Data* 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Male 10.5% 23 29 Female 10% 21 21.5 *Monitoring the Future NIDA, 2006

“Alcopops” are particularly attractive to girls and are most popular among girls in all grades.* *Monitoring the Future – NIDA, 2006

ALCOPOPS Percent by gender who have had Alcopops in past month. 2006 Boys Girls 8th Grade 11.4 14 10th Grade 20 26 12th Grade 28.5 33

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

Safe Secure Loved Wanted Need to be encouraged (kids don’t need critics, they need good role models.) Eat dinner together Family rules about alcohol use What do parents model at home Need a “rescue plan.”

Very few kids have any non-chemical coping skills.

Alcohol (and marijuana) are excellent emotional anesthetics.

Adverse childhood events: Parental divorce Emotional, physical, sexual abuse Violence in home Parent abuse of alcohol

Parents are the first and most important buffer against their kids using alcohol.

Good News! Most kids don’t develop a substance abuse problem.