Self-Protection Series
Alcohol Decisions

Copyright ©  2002  Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Alcohol Abuse is a Serious Problem

Alcohol abuse is one of our most serious public health problems. 4.6 million teens have alcohol related problems. The U.S. ranks 20th in the world for per capita alcohol consumption. Americans consume an average of 2.75 gallons per year, per person, 14 years and older. Alcohol abuse is involved in many other health, safety and social problems. Alarming proportions of accidents, crimes, suicides, and incidences of family violence and juvenile delinquency are the result of alcohol abuse by one or more family members. Percentages of social problems related to alcohol abuse are shown in the following data from various Minnesota studies summarized by the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center.

Accidents:

41% of all deaths from falls,

30% of drowning deaths,

25% of boating deaths,

and 45 - 55% of fire fatalities are alcohol related.

Crimes:

55 - 75% of homicide victims and

40% of rape offenders had been drinking at the time of the incident;

50% of those who commit sex abuse crimes also abuse alcohol.

Suicides:

80% of all adolescent suicides have been reported to be children of alcoholic parents.

Family Violence:

In 44 - 70% of the reported cases of battered women, the offender was drunk.

70% of adult women alcoholics were sexually abused as children.

Children of alcoholic parents are twice as likely to develop their own alcohol problems.

Juvenile Delinquency:

82% of adjudicated delinquent adolescents had at least one alcoholic parent.

Alcohol Use in Minnesota

Alcohol is the drug most preferred and seriously abused by teenagers in Minnesota. Among high school seniors, 78% use alcohol; two in five are binge drinkers and abuse in Minnesota is higher than the national average. Studies show very little difference in alcohol use between rural, urban and suburban youth. Drunken driving accidents are the leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year olds in the state. In 1985, 91 people in that age category were killed, and 3,447 were injured in alcohol related crashes. Of these, 52 deaths and 1,765 injuries occurred among youth 19 and under. Besides the pain and suffering these accidents cause, the cost to society exceeds $100 million in medical and insurance costs, wage losses, and property damage.

Alcohol Use is Starting Earlier

In Minnesota, as in the nation, the age of experimentation with alcohol is going down. The average beginning age is now between 11½ and 12 years. A 1983 Search Institute study shows that nearly one out of four 5th and 6th graders use alcohol, and that one out of 10 of these reported being "drunk" in the past 12 months. The study also indicated that 47% of 8th graders had been to a party where alcoholic beverages were served. The biggest increase in alcohol use occurs between 6th and 7th grade. 10% had their first drink in 6th grade, 22% in 7th grade.

Early alcohol use affects preteens in profound ways. Alcohol use decreases concentration, attention, and memory retention, which all affect academic achievement. It also impedes the healthy development of social, emotional, and physical skills which children need in order to develop self-confidence and self-esteem. Early users put themselves at high risk for a variety of health and safety problems including:

• traffic accidents
• alcohol and drug abuse
• early sexual activity and pregnancy
• poor school performance and truancy
• juvenile delinquency
• stress, depression, and suicide
• cirrhosis, hypertension, cancer
• homicides, other violent crimes

The Problem is Complex

Clearly, there is a need to prevent self-destructive behavior among adolescents. The problem is serious and complex. Many factors complicate and confuse the issue of alcohol use and abuse among Minnesota adolescents:

1. Alcohol is a legal drug for adults: It is socially acceptable to drink. Drinking is associated with pleasant, positive, happy occasions such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, and religious holidays.
   
   
2. Alcohol is an approximately $35 billion a year industry in the U.S. Public revenues from the liquor manufacturing, distribution and sales total $15.7 billion of which the federal government share is $5.7 billion. Alcohol advertising alone is a billion dollar business.
   
   
3. Adolescents receive conflicting messages about alcohol use from the media, peers, parents, and schools. Alcohol is portrayed by the media as glamorous, positive, and beneficial. It is associated with beauty, wealth, youth, happiness, and relaxation. Adults may tell teens not to drink while at the same time using alcohol in dangerous and irresponsible ways themselves. Or they may view alcohol as less harmful and less serious than the illegal drugs.

Studies have shown that adults think teenagers drink because they have problems. The teens give different reasons. They say they drink because it's fun, sociable and pleasant. In reality, young people who are "experimenting" may or may not be suffering from other problems—young people who are "abusing" usually are.

While alcohol is the drug of choice among high school students, attitudes about drinking are not necessarily consistent. In a Minneapolis study, teens who were asked how much they drank replied, "until the liquor ran out, or until I was drunk." They indicated that the feeling of being "out of control" was pleasurable. Apparently for these youths, moderation was not considered.

In another study, binge drinking (5 or more drinks once or twice per weekend) is acceptable to more seniors than is moderate daily drinking. However, 53% of seniors think that getting drunk in public places should be prohibited.

Summary

Adolescent alcohol use and abuse is a serious issue in Minnesota. The problem is complicated by the social acceptability of alcohol, conflicting messages, poor adult role models, ambivalent attitudes, and other social and health problems which are intricately interrelated. The self-destructive consequences of alcohol abuse in relation to traffic accidents, poor academic achievement, juvenile delinquency, depression, family violence, and crime, plead for a solution. The data on alcohol use indicates a need to educate very young children about the affects of alcohol and to help them develop the skills which they'll need for self-protection.

There is a need to teach children that they are ultimately responsible for their choices and to provide support as they are deciding. Educational efforts must take into account the connection between alcohol abuse and family violence, juvenile delinquency, crime, accidents, depression, and suicide in a society in which alcohol use is very traditional and acceptable. Programs need to consider the impact of the media and to show children how to analyze the mixed messages they receive from the media, adults, peers, schools, churches and social organizations. The circular cause-and-effect relationship of alcohol with other health, safety, and social problems indicate the need for prevention programs which utilize a wide variety of community resources. Such programs can rely on children, teens, and adults to work cooperatively to develop solutions which are appropriate to local needs.

Bibliography

Minnesota Department of Public Safety, St. Paul, MN, 1985

• Crash Facts

Minnesota Prevention Resource Center, Anoka, MN, 1986

• Adolescent Drug Use
• Alcohol, Accidents and Crime
• Alcohol and Driving
• Drinking Patterns
• Children of Alcoholics

Search Institute, Minneapolis, MN, 1983

• Report on 1983 Minnesota Survey on Drug Use and Drug-Related Attitudes

Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension.

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