Alcohol is the most widely used and abused drug among youth. It kills more teenagers than all drugs combined. Seven million children under 18 live in alcoholic homes and between one-fourth and one-third of them will become an alcoholic themselves. The estimated average age to start drinking alcohol is 13. For some it's much younger. In a survey of 4th and 6th graders, one-third of the 4th graders and one-half of the 6th graders that had been questioned said that they had been pressured by their own peers to have taken a drink at one time. 90% of kids who get in trouble say they did it to impress or please their friends. In 1998, 10.4 million drinkers were under the legal age of 21. Also in 1998, an estimated one in five teenagers were current drinkers and one in thirteen teenagers were binge drinkers. 38% of girls ages 12-17 reported using alcohol. In a survey of 4,390 high school seniors and dropouts said that 80% reported getting drunk, binge drinking or drinking and driving in the prec

The majority of 12-16 year old adolescents are light drinkers. But some problem behaviors for light drinkers have been reported. 4.4% said they have tried to hurt or kill themselves and 7.9% have thought about suicide. Aggressive and delinquent behaviors for light drinkers were as followed; 3.7% ran away from home, 6.1% stole, 6.7% destroyed other's belongings, 12.3% threatened to hurt someone and 6.5% had physically attacked someone. The criminal behavior report for light drinkers said that 29.5% got in a physical fight, 4.9% were on probation, 9.9% had been arrested and 6.3% had driven under the influence.

Alcohol is known as the gateway drug. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) said that alcohol is the precursor to marijuana and other drugs. The Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) found out that those who start drinking before age 15, 67% end up using an illicit drug. 25% of those who don't drink until the age of 17 use other drugs. Kids 12-17 who drink are 22.3 times more likely to smoke marijuana and 50 times more likely to use cocaine.

There are lots of risk factors for drinking alcohol. It shrinks memory signals much quicker in adolescents. It also reduces memory acquisition and the ability to learn. In animal studies it shows a delay of puberty and slows the bone growth and weakens the bones. Those who drink regularly have higher death rates. Alcohol is most associated with suicidal thoughts and with suicide attempts. It also causes birth defects, inflammation of the pancreas and damage to the brain.

In ages 12-14 they tend to believe that the positive benefits of drinking alcohol like feeling good and fitting in with peers are more likely that feeling sick and having health problems afterwards. They think that drinking will gain them greater social acceptance. Those who think that, are more like to drink and consume it at a much faster rate.

Alcohol is the easiest dru

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