Alcohol Awareness

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. The theme of 2005 is “TOGETHER WE CAN STOP UNDERAGE DRINKING.”

Underage drinking continues to be a prevalent problem in American society. Alcohol abuse among American youth often leads to problems academically, socially, and psychologically.

One of the hallmarks of all substance abuse problems is denial, a fact that is also present in teenage alcohol abusers. Alcohol is the number one drug problem among teenagers. Many teen alcohol abusers hide their alcohol use until tragedy exposes the problem. Examples are automobile accidents, failing grades, impaired health, depression or even death from binge drinking. Alcohol can hurt you even if you are simply with the people who are drinking. Youth have an increased risk of being injured or killed by automobile accidents or face other forms of violence when in the presence of those using alcohol.

Parents and caretakers of teenagers should take care to watch for signs of alcohol abuse among youth. Some of the behaviors associated with alcohol abuse during adolescence include:

• Abrupt downturn in schoolwork and apathy about completing homework, special projects or other assignments.
• Unexplained attendance problems. The child’s school may inform parents of missed classes or whole days of unexcused absences.
• Secretive patterns of behavior in an attempt to hide alcohol use.
• Formation of peer relationships with individuals involved in drug use.
• A greater than average amount of resistance to rules and limits, especially those that pertain to late night or weekend activities.

As alcohol abuse increases and becomes a problem, there is a tendency to need more and more money, seek loans more frequently from friends and parents, or even resort to theft to purchase alcohol. Peer pressure remains one of the chief reasons that teenagers become involved in substance abuse.

The ability to resist involvement in alcohol use comes from an inner strength based on a healthy self-concept and the ability to resist conforming to the norms of a group practicing unhealthy behaviors. Parents should openly discuss the problems of alcohol with their teenagers and encourage healthy habits including proper nutrition, adequate rest and exercise. A proper alternative to those activities where alcohol and drug use is common needs to be provided for teenagers. Family and peers can positively influence teens’ willingness to avoid underage alcohol use by actively encouraging their children not to use alcohol and providing good parental role models of healthy behavior.