4-6-2010

Teens & Alcohol

Underage drinking is a serious problem in the U.S.  It can be a threat to a teen’s health and development.

Although the legal drinking age in most states is age 21, many young people start drinking several years before, according to the U.S. surgeon general.  The consequences of underage drinking can be serious says Ron Kanwischer, assistant professor of psychiatry and substance abuse counselor at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.  He explains when many teens begin drinking.

SOUND BITE:  TR 2 (0:12 - 0:36)  “. . . the average age in the U.S. to begin drinking is about age 14, but I have seen kids as young as 8 begin drinking.  If we look at drinking across the lifespan, the age of 18 to 24, we are most likely to begin drinking and drinking regularly during that time period.”

Kanwischer says earlier drinking can cause alcohol problems later in life.  Of those adults who started drinking before age 15, about 40 percent have signs of alcohol dependency.   He explains that drinking and drug use can negatively affect the last stages of a young person’s growth and development.

SOUND BITE:  TR 2 (3:36 – 3:58)  “. . . there are profound negative effects from using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and a variety of other drugs on this development and there are some folks who go so far as to say some of those will be permanent for the rest of their lives.  There will be some deficits in their development as a result of that early exposure to those chemicals.”

Kanswischer encourages families to have open conversations about drinking and the medical and legal consequences of it.  If someone has a drinking problem and is dependent on alcohol, they should talk to their family physician or a substance abuse counselor.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.