Adult accountability/ Research on the Threat of Alcohol

Helpline Youth Counseling

Substance abuse prevention program

ADULT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SOCIAL HOST

Underage Drinking

The problem of underage drinking is one that has received national attention. Although rates of adolescent alcohol use have fallen since the 1980’s, the prevalence of underage drinking remains unacceptably high, and reducing underage drinking and its consequences is a public health priority (U.S DHHS, 2007). We have all heard horror stories relating to underage drinking. The stories are endless, the girl who was raped while she was drunk, the high school seniors who crashed on prom night, the heated arguments, fights and violence worsened by the effects of alcohol. Everyone I’m sure has either experienced or knows of a unique horror story associated to underage drinking. What may not be common knowledge is the severity alcohol consumption has on a young persons’ brain and character development. This paper hopes to inform the community of Norwalk about the current underage alcohol use in the community, the threats associated with underage drinking, the cost of underage drinking and the need to stop adults from providing underage youth alcohol.

RESEARCH ON THE THREAT OF ALCOHOL FOR UNDERAGE YOUTH

Alcohol has been the drug of choice for youth and the leading cause of death among teenagers (National Center on Addiction and substance abuse, 2002). Our Youth Field Survey data states that 33% or 7 out of 23 respondents ages 12-17 report that they began drinking alcohol regularly, at least once or twice a month before the age of 18 for the city of Norwalk (source: YFS-D17). The California Healthy Kids 2008-2010 CHKS data states that 71% of Norwalk high school 11th graders reported having at least one full drink in the past 30 days.

Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs, and is responsible for more than 4,700 annual deaths among underage youth (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2007). A common misconception among many is that all youth “will drink regardless” or that it is an inevitable “rite of passage” that does not affect young adults because of their body’s resiliency. This misconception couldn’t be further from the truth. Alcohol consumption during this developmental period may have profound effects on brain structure and function (Tapert, 2005). Recent research suggests that heavy drinking may affect brain functioning in early adolescence, even in physically healthy youths. This is important for two reasons, first the brain continues to develop throughout adolescence and into young adulthood, and insults to the brain during this period therefore could have an impact on long term brain function. Second, young adulthood is a period when most people make critical educational, occupational, and social decisions, and impaired cognitive functioning at this time could substantially affect their futures (Tapert, 2005).

Youth who begin drinking alcohol before the age of 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after age 21 years (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2007).  In addition to increasing the risk for future alcohol dependence; adolescents who begin drinking before the age of 13 are twice as likely to have unplanned sex during college, and more than twice as likely to have unprotected sex during college, as those who do not start drinking until after age 19 (Hingson, 2003). 

Youth access to alcohol must be proactively addressed through all sources. Many people mistakenly believe that allowing youth to drink will help reduce some of the negative consequences of alcohol. However the truth is that the risks associated with underage drinking does not differentiate between location and settings.

In 2011, 57.0 percent of current underage drinkers reported that their last use of alcohol occurred in someone else's home, and 28.2 percent reported that it had occurred in their own home. About one third (30.3 percent) paid for the alcohol the last time they drank, including 7.7 percent who purchased the alcohol themselves and 22.4 percent who gave money to someone else to purchase it. Among those who did not pay for the alcohol they last drank, 38.2 percent got it from an unrelated person aged 21 or older, 19.1 percent from another person younger than 21 years old, and 21.4 percent from a parent, guardian, or other adult family member (Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2012).

In our youth field survey we found that 74% or 17 out of 23 respondents ages 12-17 report access to alcohol at other’s homes in the city of Norwalk (source: YFS B9)*. Survey data states that 72% or 5 out of 7 respondents ages 18-24 report parents allowing use is one of the top reasons for alcohol misuse in city of Norwalk (source: YAFS-E1)*.

Norwalk, Data

·         Alcohol is so commonly consumed, survey data states that 35% or 8 out of 23 respondents ages 12-17 report that they had used alcohol at least once in the past 30 days for Norwalk (source: YFS-D8).

·         Survey data states that 33% or 7 out of 23 respondents ages 12-17 report that they began drinking alcohol regularly, at least once or twice a month before the age of 18 for the city of Norwalk (source: YFS-D17).

·         88% or 15 out of 17 survey respondents in 2012 for Norwalk ages 18-24 stated that they had began drinking alcohol regularly by the age of 21 or younger.  (YAFS-D17)

·         2008-2010 CHKS data 35% of Norwalk 7th graders reported having at one full drink in the past 30 days (http://chks.wested.org/).

·         2008-2010 CHKS data states that 53% of Norwalk high school 9th graders reported having at least one full drink in the past 30 days (http://chks.wested.org/).

·         2008-2010 CHKS data states that 71% of Norwalk high school 11th graders reported having at least one full drink in the past 30 days (http://chks.wested.org/).

·         71% of Norwalk 11th graders reported using alcohol at least once in their lifetime according to CHKS data 2008-2010].

This material was made possible by funds from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control.