Teenage Alcoholism Essay -- Alcohol Drinking binge Youth Essays

Teenage drink What is inebriant? Alcohol is numerous things to many people To little kids, it is a curiosity. To teenagers, it is ?cool?. To responsible drinkers, it is a relaxant. To bartenders, it is a job, their lives. To restaurant owners, it is a moneymaker. To probation officers, it is a frustration. To actively alcoholism sousings, it is heaven. To wives and husbands of drinking alcoholics, it is a waste. To recovering alcoholics, it is a painful old friend. To us, it is something to be well-read about and controlled. ? (Dolmetsch, p.4) The definition of alcoholism stresses the basic elements of (1) chronicity (2) compulsive, uncontrollable drinking (3) inebriety and (4) interruption of normal life functions. (Claypool, p. 91) When the drinker?s work, social life, sketch habits, mental health, or family and personal relationships are affected, the possibility exists that the drinker whitethorn be an alcoholic. If the drinker is able to stop drinking permanently, then h e is not considered to be an alcoholic. ?For teenagers and adults, alcohol is the intimately commonly abused drug. It is casual to get, easy to use, and as common in our society as aspirin.? (Claypool, p. 62) Millions of American teenagers drink alcohol. Young people drink for many reasons whether it?s to evasion the daily stress of school or family life, or to fit in with their friends. But sadly enough, many teenagers discover too late that drinking cannot solve any of their problems. Teenage drinking is now one of the most heartbreaking problems that preadolescent people face. (Landau, intro) In 1977, Senator Frank J. Dodd stated ?Alcoholism is one of the greatest health problems in the United States and is one that afflicts individuals in virtually all social and economic categories and varying age groups.? (Claypool, pp. 90 -91) From the time children reach the age of 13 , 63 percent of the boys and 54 percent of the girls have at least(prenominal) tried their first alcoh olic beverage. (Claypool, p. 14) Alcohol use substantially increases each year throughout minor(postnominal) and senior high school. By the twelfth grade, 93 percent of the young men and 87 percent of the young women have at least tried one drink. Thirty percent of these students had five or more(prenominal) drinks in a row within the previous two weeks. (Landau, p.15) The content Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that ?By the time ... ...le to sop up through successfully. (Dolmetsch, pp. 88, 115) Alcoholism among teenagers in the United States is becoming more general than ever before. Current statistics present an unpleasant picture of teenage alcohol use rising every year. Alcohol use leads to teens having problems with school, family, or make up with authorities. They may drink to escape these problems, or even to fit in with their friends. This problem of teenage drinking is now one of the most serious problems that young people face today, and the only wa y to stop these statistics from growing, is to evolve the teenagers of the risks of drinking alcohol. Works CitedClaypool, Jane. Alcohol and You. raw(a) York Franklin Watts, 1988. Landau, Elaine. Teenage Drinking. New jersey Enslow Publishers, Inc. 1994.Lang, Alan. Alcohol Teenage Drinking. New York Chelsea House, 1992.Dolmetsch, Paul, and Gail Mauricette, ed. Teens Talk About Alcohol and Alcoholism. New York Doubleday & Company, Inc. 1987. Spence, W.R. Drinking and Driving Murder on Our Highways. Texas Health Edco. 1998. Vogler, Roger E. Teenagers and Alcohol When say No Isn?t Enough. Philadelphia Charles Press, 1992.