Things Every Parent Should Know About Teens and Binge Drinking

Binge drinking by underage Americans is a national epidemic. More than any other drug, alcohol

is responsible for a disturbing number of deaths, injuries, health problems, and arrests among

children and teens aged 12 to 20 every year. In light of these facts, every parent needs to

understand the dangers of binge drinking, and the steps they can take to combat it. What is Binge Drinking? Binge drinking is the consumption of large amounts of alcohol over a short period of time. The

commonly accepted levels of alcohol consumption that qualify as binge drinking are:

● Five or more drinks at one time for males. ● Four or more drinks at one time for females.

When a person consumes this amount of alcohol three or more times over a two week period, it

is considered "heavy binge drinking."1

Teens and Alcohol Consumption Studies measuring the use of alcohol by teenagers and young adults have found many disturbing

trends regarding young people and alcohol consumption:

● Alcohol is the most used and abused drug among American youth, more than tobacco or

any illicit drug.2

● Despite 21 being the legal age for alcohol consumption, 11% of all alcohol consumed in

the United States is consumed by people aged 12 to 20.3

● Of the 11% of all alcohol consumed by people aged 12 to 20, over 90% of it is consumed

in the form of binge drinking.43

● Alcohol is responsible for over 4,300 deaths among underage people every year5, as well

as over 600,000 injuries.6

When teenagers and young adults binge drink, they are at risk for many negative consequences,

which include:

● Increased risk of unplanned and unprotected sex, as well as increased risk of sexual

assault ● Underage pregnancy ● Disruption of normal growth and sexual maturation

1 2 3 4 5 6

● Increased suicide risk ● Increased risk of fighting, drunk driving, and other dangerous activities ● Memory loss ● Abnormal brain development ● Hangovers, alcohol poisoning, and other medical issues associated with alcohol abuse ● Disruption of normal school and social activities ● Legal troubles, including arrest for drunk driving and other alcohol related offenses ● Increased likelihood of abusing other drugs ● Increased likelihood of developing alcohol dependence or abuse later in life, especially

among youths who begin drinking before the age of 15 What Can Parents Do? Given the widespread problem of youth binge drinking and the devastating consequences it can

have, it is important that parents take steps to prevent their children from binge drinking, and to

get help for youths who have a problem with alcohol abuse as soon as possible. Many people

consider drinking by teens and young adults to be a "normal part of growing up." This attitude

toward youth drinking often leads to children's troubles with alcohol being overlooked or even

encouraged. When youth binge drinking is ignored, it is more likely to develop into a more

serious problem, including alcoholism, injury, death, or arrest. It is very important that parents speak with their children about the dangers of excessive alcohol

consumption and discourage them from drinking as much as possible. By having a clear "no

drinking" policy, enacting punishment for underage drinking, and speaking with your children

frankly and honestly about the dangers of alcohol abuse, you can help them better understand the

consequences of their actions, and even discourage dangerous behavior. If your child comes to

you about a problem with alcohol or if you believe that they may already be engaging in

dangerous behavior, getting them help as quickly as possible is paramount. For teens and young

adults who cannot stop drinking, affordable drug rehab centers like Yellowstone Recovery can

help them deal with their alcohol abuse and learn healthy ways to cope with their problems that

don't involve drinking. Binge drinking by American youths is too large a problem to ignore. If you believe that your

child or a child you know is binge drinking or has other problems with drugs or alcohol, the

problem should never be ignored. By stopping kids from developing dangerous habits with drugs

and alcohol early, you can prevent serious health problems and legal issues, or even save a life.