Alcohol consumption by teenagers produces human tragedies in inconceivable proportions. Car crashes, suicides, homicides as well as other forms of unintentional injuries and deaths, are the leading causes of death among 15 to 20-year-olds, and ALCOHOL is a factor in some if not most of these deaths. Each year so many underage drinkers die in vehicular accidents. That is one of the reasons why this issue has become one of the major public health concerns faced by the country.[1] These surprising numbers have lead more and more people into finding ways in augmenting underage drinking prevention.
The best way of fighting underage drinking is to STOP teenagers before they even START drinking alcohol. Efforts put into preventing underage drinking have to be made more strategic and creative. In fact a prevention program was designed by researchers to fight underage drinking in the state of Minnesota. It was a three-year, three-pronged program which effectively reduced underage drinking to 20 – 30%. However when the same program was used by researchers in Chicago, it did little to keep teenagers from drinking alcohol. Based on this program, experts believe that fighting underage drinking in urban areas might be more tricky that in rural areas.[2]
Promising outcomes on campaigns against underage drinking have been reported throughout the US. Studies have shown that more and more teens are listening to awareness campaigns. According to one survey, teens are now more willing to discuss drugs and alcohol with their guardians and more of them understand the consequences of substance abuse. And, based on a statement by Steve Pasierb, President and Chief Executive of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, Parents are talking and what you see in the study, particularly among girls, is the willingness of kids to listen. They’re more open to talking about drug issues than kids in the past. This tells us that not only are parents responding to the call, even kids are starting to take heed as well. It also tells us that parents and guardians must listen to what is being said by their wards. Moreover, it has been shown that the more teenagers talk to their parents about drugs and alcohol, the less likely they are going to abuse such substances.[3]
Underage drinking prevention campaigns are paving the way for solving the problems of underage drinking in America. The task is huge and it requires a combined effort for the community as a whole. But with hard work, commitment and determination, those goals can soon be realized.
[1]National Research Council Institute of Medicine (2004) Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility; National Academies Press; USA; p. 13
[2] http://alcoholism.about.com/b/2008/04/03/curbing-teen-drinking-difficult-in-urban-areas.htm
[3] http://alcoholism.about.com/b/2009/03/03/more-teens-getting-the-anti-drug-message.htm