Archive Report
Archive Report
Old Problem, New Concerns
Alcohol Abuse: Primary Youth Drug Problem
Many people view teen-age drinking as a rite of passage, a natural part of the transition from childhood to adulthood. In fact, teen-agers usually are given their first drink at home and most grow up to be fairly moderate drinkers. But there is evidence that teen-agers start drinking younger, and drink more often and in greater quantities than in the past. And the consequences of their drinking have become more serious. Around 40,000 young people are injured, maimed or killed each year in drunken driving accidents.
“Alcohol abuse is the number one youth drug problem today,” according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).1 The dimensions of the teen-age drinking problem were underscored by ...