Underage Drinking
Underage drinking, also described as people under the age of 21 drinking alcohol, may lead to many problems.
· Alcohol is the most common drug of choice among youth.· Alcohol is a leading cause of death among adolescents. It is associated with motor vehicle crashes, injuries, suicide, date rape, and family and school problems.1 · Since the brain continues to develop until about age 25, underage drinking has been shown to impair learning, judgment, memory, and decision making.2 · More kids use alcohol than tobacco or other drugs.3 · What’s more, young people who begin drinking before age 15 are at least four times more likely to become alcoholics than those who begin drinking at age 21.4
· Alcohol is the most common drug of choice among youth.· Alcohol is a leading cause of death among adolescents. It is associated with motor vehicle crashes, injuries, suicide, date rape, and family and school problems.1
· Since the brain continues to develop until about age 25, underage drinking has been shown to impair learning, judgment, memory, and decision making.2
· More kids use alcohol than tobacco or other drugs.3
· What’s more, young people who begin drinking before age 15 are at least four times more likely to become alcoholics than those who begin drinking at age 21.4
Today, 9% of all Oregon youth are addicted to alcohol or drugs. In Marion County, 21% of 8th grade students report drinking alcohol in the past 30 days, as do one-third (33%) of 11th grade students. It is known that the younger a person starts drinking, the more likely they are to become addicted. Clearly, underage drinking is a serious issue in Marion County. Prevention must start now!
What Can I do to Prevent Underage Drinking?
1. Ninth Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health from the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Rockville, MD: USDHHS, Public Health Service, Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Jun 1997. Kann, L., Warren, C., et al., Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 1995. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep CDC surveillance Summaries, 45(4):1-84, Sep 27, 1996.2. National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. NIH. Alcohol Alert. No 67, Jan 2006.
3. Department of Human Services Addictions and Mental Health Division. Alcohol, Illicit Drug & Tobacco Consumption and Consequences in Marion County, Oregon. 2000 to 2006. Available at:
4. NSDUH Report, 2004. Available at: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/p0000016.htm#2k4