Teen Drinking Is Rampant -- and Harmful

By the time teens reach the eighth grade, more than 20 percent have been drunk, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

About 30 percent of high school seniors engage in "binge" drinking, or having five or more drinks in one setting, the NIAAA says.

Underage drinking, besides being illegal, poses serious health risks for both teens and the community, the NIAAA says:

• The rate of alcohol-related traffic accidents is greater for drivers ages 16 to 20 than for drivers 21 and older.

• Teens are at higher risk for brain damage associated with alcohol use.

• Young drinkers are at higher risk for abusing alcohol or becoming dependent on it later.

• Teens who drink are at higher risk for suicide, especially when a teen already is depressed or under stress. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in teens and young adults.

• Using alcohol increases the risk for sexual assault and rape.

• Teens who drink are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, including having multiple partners or not using a condom. High-risk sexual behavior can lead to unwanted pregnancy and serious or fatal sexually transmitted disease.

Parents' important role

Keeping your teen alcohol-free starts with you. Ralph I. Lopez, M.D., a pediatrician in New York, says parents should look at their own behavior. If you have a drink to loosen up, your child may conclude that people need alcohol to relax or that it's fun to drink.

"Before the teen years, talk with your spouse and decide what is tolerable in your family," Dr. Lopez says. What role does alcohol play in your home? What behaviors are not acceptable? What are the consequences for those behaviors?

Dr. Lopez recommends parents talk with their kids as early as fifth grade about drinking. Avoid the naive belief that "it can't happen in this family," he says.

If you find your child drunk, don't discuss the problem until you're all clearheaded. If your child keeps breaking the rules despite discipline, or if the behavior is life-threatening, seek professional help.

Teens who have had behavior problems or who come from a family with a history of alcohol abuse or alcoholism are at higher risk for using alcohol themselves. But research also has shown that the drinking behavior of a teen's friends will have a large influence on whether that teen drinks.

Signs of teens' use of alcohol or drugs

• Falling grades

• Slipping hygiene or grooming

• Withdrawal from friends and family

• Aggressive, rebellious acts

• Imitating peers' behavior too much

• A change of friends

• Falling interest in after-school pursuits

• Odd eating or sleeping habits

• Bloodshot eyes

• Unexplained bruises

• Smell of alcohol on breath

• Secretive behavior

Parents should also be aware that these same signs are also associated with drug use, as well as depression and other associated psychological disorders. These signs are always significant and should be investigated and evaluated.