The Dangers of Underage Drinking THE FACTS: In 2002, 10.7 million people between the ages of In 2002, 10.7 million people between the ages of drank alcohol in the past month. Of the drinkers in this age group, 19.3 percent (7.2 million people) engaged in binge drinking and 6.2 percent (2.3 million people) were heavy drinkers. Underage drinkers consume 19.7 percent of all Underage drinkers consume 19.7 percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States.

THE CONSEQUENCES Alcohol is a significant factor in the four leading causes of death among persons ages 10 to 24: (1) motor-vehicle crashes, (2) unintentional injuries, (3) homicide, and (4) suicide. Young people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age percent of 6th- through 12th-graders who consumed liquor in reported having trouble with police percent of male high school students reported driving a car after drinking alcohol, compared to 9.5 percent of female students, within the 30 days prior to responding to the survey. Out of all high school students, 13.3 percent drove after drinking.

THE CONSEQUENCES Of youth (aged 15-20) involved in fatal traffic crashes in 2000, 30.1 percent died in crashes with alcohol-impaired young drivers. Of those alcohol-related traffic fatalities, more than twice as many youth had BAC levels of 0.10 or greater, compared to youth with BAC levels of College students who experienced being drunk for the first time before age 13 were twice as likely to have unplanned sex and 2.2 times as likely to have unprotected sex due to drinking. High alcohol consumption is associated with lower GPAs, lower academic achievement, and lower wage potential.

THE CONSEQUENCES MRIs used to assess the size of the hippocampus in subjects with adolescent-onset alcohol use disorders and in normal control subjects showed that the longer one abused alcohol, the smaller the hippocampus became. Research suggests that heavy alcohol exposure produces more damage in the adolescent brain than the adult brain, including the hippocampus and regions associated with it.

THE CONSEQUENCES Studies indicate that alcohol-dependent teens have impaired memory, altered perception of spatial relationships, and verbal skill deficiencies. Cognitive impairments have been detected in adolescent alcohol abusers weeks after they stop drinking. The causes of these long-lasting changes are unclear, but they might involve brain damage and/or alterations in normal brain development.

HIPPOCAMPUS DAMAGE HIPPOCAMPUS DAMAGE IN SUMMARY, alcohol use damages the HIPPOCAMPUS (part of the limbic system in the brain). Damage to this part of the brain contributes to decreased emotional regulation, increased memory problems and poor decision-making skills.

How to tell when drinking is becoming a problem… ASK THESE QUESTIONS… 1.Do you drink because you have problems? To relax? 2.Do you drink when you get mad at other people, your friends or parents? 3.Do you prefer to drink alone, rather than with others? 4.Are your grades starting to slip? Are you taking your job less seriously?

ASK THESE QUESTIONS… 5. Did you ever try to stop drinking or drink less – and fail? 6. Have you begun to drink in the morning, before school or work? 7. Do you gulp or chug your drinks or take shots? 8. Do you ever have loss of memory due to your drinking?

ASK THESE QUESTIONS… 9. Do you lie about your drinking? 10. Do you ever get into trouble when you’re drinking? 11. Do you get drunk when you drink, even when you don’t mean to? 12. Do you think it’s cool to be able to hold your liquor? Source: Alcoholics Anonymous

PREPARE YOURSELF TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF… Decide what reasons you have to decide not to drink. Plan ahead –Stay away from people or places where there is access –Plan how to deal with the invitation to drink

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF… Say NO! with your own style –Use humor –Change the subject –Blame a parent/coach/friend Be direct and stick to your “guns” Give a reason or an excuse Offer another (alcohol-free) option

EMPOWER YOURSELF USE THIS ANONYMOUS TIP LINE TO REPORT UNDERAGE DRINKING AND PARTIES… UNDER-21 The operator will notify the police to check it out. REMEMBER: You may not want to “rat out” your friends but if you’re worried about them, getting caught is one thing that can change their behavior.

RESOURCES /AA67.htmhttp://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA6 7/AA67.htm ol/ ol/