By Stephen Wallace, M.S. Ed.
A report from the National Research Council and Institute
of Medicine of the National Academies (Reducing
Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility) sounds the alarm on
an epidemic of underage drinking in America. In the spirit
of "it takes a village," it also serves up a strategy
suggesting the participation of most all segments of society.
From parents and pubs, to cops and congressmen, everybody
has a role to play. As well they should.
Teens Today research from SADD and Liberty Mutual Group
points to some startling facts about youth and alcohol.
- Drinking increases significantly between the 6th and
7th grades.
- The average age for teens to start drinking is thirteen
years old.
- By 12th grade, more than three in four teens are drinking.
Long the poor stepchild of anti-drug efforts, underage drinking
remains a substantial threat. Indeed, the Academies estimate
the annual cost to be $53 billion in losses from traffic
deaths, violent crime, and other destructive behavior . .
. say nothing of the damage to mental health, school performance,
and relationships with parents and peers. The fact is that
too many adults send too many messages that encourage or
enable teen drinking. And too many parents expect or ignore
it.
It is past time to reconcile the forces of indifference
and indulgence that perpetuate underage drinking with the
urgent need to keep young people safe and alive.
The Academies call for a series of steps they believe will
change the face of "normative" behavior when it
comes to adolescents and alcohol—not the least of which
would be a national media campaign designed to educate adults
about the extent and risks of underage drinking and their
own role as facilitators. After all, the Academies note,
most underage drinking involves adults—who sell it,
buy it, or allow parties in their homes. Just as important,
the report tackles head on the issue of alcohol advertising
that is attractive to teens and appeals to the social conscience
of the entertainment industry to limit youth exposure to
content that portrays alcohol consumption in a favorable
light.
Perhaps most significant, the report suggests an array of
youth-oriented interventions aimed not just at increasing
self-esteem or decreasing peer pressure, but also at activities
that educate, intervene, and enforce. Making those activities
effective, however, requires a close examination of the factors
that influence young people to drink in the first place.
Not surprisingly, some teens say they drink to have fun,
to fit in, or just to do what their classmates seem to be
doing. But engaging in destructive behaviors is not just
about "having a good time." Many teens, particularly
older ones, drink to escape problems. Left unaddressed, those
problems can pose a significant risk to healthy social and
emotional development. So too does a lack of experience in
solving them.
The data also indicate other key drivers of decisions about
alcohol, including depression, anxiety, stress, and boredom;
a desire to feel grown up and to take risks; a fear of getting
caught; and the influence of parents, friends, and siblings.
So what does this tell us? That there are practical approaches
adults can take to reduce the likelihood that young people
will turn to alcohol.
- Monitor their emotional health—and intervene at
signs of trouble. Anxiety, and its close cousin depression,
correlates highly with alcohol use. So does boredom . .
. so find things for teens to do that both stimulate and
challenge.
- Help them achieve their goals. Teens want to be successful,
to grow up, and to take risks. Channel that risk-taking
toward activities that enhance healthy socialization with
peers and positive feelings about themselves. Also, take
time to point out ways in which alcohol use can interfere
with success in academics and athletics.
- Establish (and enforce) consequences for bad behavior.
Young people need clear boundaries and appreciate adults
who care enough to patrol them.
- Encourage relationships with good role models, be they
adult, teen, or child. According to Teens
Today research,
6th – 12th graders report parents, close friends,
and other family members are most influential in their
decisions not to drink.
Understanding teen drinking platforms deployment of the
many people and programs needed to prevent it. As the ancient
African proverb teaches, it will take a village. Maybe more.
© Summit Communications Management Corporation
2006
All Rights Reserved
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