Alcoholics are usually associated with adults but alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are not only adult problems. Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by teenagers in the United States. It affects a significant number of kids and young adults between the ages of 12 and 20, even though drinking under the age of 21 is illegal. The average age when children first try alcohol is 11 years for boys and 13 years for girls. By age 14, 41 percent of children have had least one drink. Teens that begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21. It has been estimated that over three million teenagers are alcoholics. Several million more have a serious drinking problem that they cannot manage on their own. Alcohol is involved in nearly half of all violent deaths involving teens. The three leading causes of death for 15- to 24-year-olds are automobile crashes, homicides and suicides -- alcohol is a leading factor in all three.
Experimentation with alcohol during the teen years is common. Some reasons that teens use alcohol and other drugs are based on curiosity, a means to relax, to fit in, and sometimes just to seem more mature. From a very young age, kids see advertising messages showing beautiful people enjoying life along with alcohol. Many parents and other adults use alcohol socially which gives the impression that alcohol is harmless. Little do people know that alcohol has severe risks. Heavier drinking can turn good feelings into bad and bad feelings into worse. People who drink heavily often wind up doing things they really didn't want to do. They end up in accidents, fights, and other bad situations that harm property, other people, and themselves. Besides being more likely to commit crimes and get into violent acts, people who drinks regularly also often have problems with school. Drinking can damage a student's ability to study well and get decent grades, as well as affect...