“It is better that my kid gets hooked in alcohol. At least, he is not into drugs!” This perhaps highlights our country’s problem on teenage alcoholism. The parents and the society in general think very lightly of the evils alcoholism can do to their children. They prefer their children to get addicted to alcohol instead of drugs. They have failed to realize that alcoholism also has adverse effects on their children physically, emotionally and socially.
It is at least as dangerous if not more dangerous then drugs. Alcoholism affects not only the brain but even our emotions and feelings to the point that we cannot control them anymore. Alcoholism consumes a person until he reaches the point that he can no longer think straight and make right decisions. It also affects the body causing damage to the liver, stomach and other internal organs. It affects our relationship with people and how we communicate with our family, friends, co-workers.
But because parents and the society downplay the effects of alcohol on a person, many people, including teenagers, continue drinking in excessive amounts as if there is nothing wrong with it.
Review of Related Literature
This study seeks to focus on the problem of alcoholism among teenagers. Several research materials have been consulted for this paper. This includes studies done by different agencies and organizations such as National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, American Medical Association, British Medical Association, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Drug Policy Research Center, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other agencies for the purpose of determining the extent of the problem of alcoholism among teenagers and the extent of the dangers teenagers expose themselves in drinking alcohol.
Several journals have also been utilized such as Journal of Studies on Alcohol, Alcohol Research and Health and other scholarly articles for the purpose of determining the current literature about alcoholism, how it is defined, what are the reasons why teenagers engage in alcoholism, what are the effects of alcohol on the body and what is being done to address this problem.
Methodology
This research paper utilizes studies and statistics previously conducted by experts in this field. These studies and experiments have been published in scholarly journals. The websites of these organizations that are experts in the field of alcoholism and its effects on the body have also been consulted for studies and statistics about why the teenagers engage in alcoholic drinks and what are the dangers involved in drinking alcohol.
Results
The number of teenagers who drink and who drink heavily are on the rise. According to an article published by the British Medical Association (BMA), quoted in “The Health Effects of Teen Alcohol Use”, “…there was a general rise in the proportion of 11 to 15 year-olds who drink alcohol regularly, but also there is an increase in the amount they are drinking on each occasion” (p.1).
In a study conducted by Drug Policy Research Center on a total of 4390 high-school seniors and dropouts, the following were the results: “a) About one of every six seniors and dropouts averaged at least one alcoholic drink every other day; b) More than a quarter of those surveyed experienced a drinking-related problem (e.g., missing school, feeling really sick) on at least three occasions during the previous year–or a more serious problem (e.g., a fight, an arrest) at least once; and c) The same proportion engaged in two or more high-risk drinking activities (e.g., combining alcohol with other drugs, getting drunk) on multiple occasions during the previous year” (“Teenage Alcohol Misuse”, 1998 p.1).
In addition, according to a 2004 study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention about 75% of high school students have tried alcohol. 28% of these have had a recent episode of heavy drinking which is more than 5 drinks within a couple of hours.
There is no universal definition of what alcoholism means. In fact there is a great disparity among Americans on how alcoholism should be defined. Some define alcoholism as “a behavior pattern characterized by uncontrolled drinking of alcoholic beverages to the extent of impairing health and social functioning” (Ronald L. Cosper, 2002, p.1). On the other hand, some define alcoholism as “a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations” (“Alcoholism seen as disease, but opinions vary on cause”, 1988, p.1).
Based on the first definition, it would appear that there are two views about the subject matter of alcoholism among teenagers. The first is that alcoholism is seen as a behavioral disorder in which the teenager is characterized as lacking in moral strength and character to the point that he cannot control his drinking of alcoholic beverages. Based on this definition, alcoholism is seen more as a problem on the part of the person or the actor.
On the other hand, the second definition treats alcoholism as a serious disease which is a result of hereditary, diet, infection or environmental factors. Based on the definition, alcoholism is not considered as a problem of lack of moral strength and character of the person but a result of factors that are external to the person.
Reasons why Teenager Drinks
There are different reasons why teenagers get hooked on drinking. The primary reason considered is peer pressure. Researchers say that there comes a time in the child’s life where the influence of his parents takes a back seat over the influence of his peers and friends. The child reaches the stage where he desperately wants to fit in to the society and seeks the acceptance of his friends. For these children, smoking, drinking and taking drugs are their boarding pass to being accepted and to being a part of the group. Thus, they are forced to take them against their will initially. But over time, these drinks become more often until it reaches the point where they are already enjoying it. The search for acceptance eventually becomes an addiction.
Another reason why teenagers get hooked on alcohol is because of the powerful influence of the mass media. Advertisements promoting alcoholic drinks are everywhere. They are in print and television advertisement. They come in attractive packages telling the young generation that these drinks taste good. They are associated with popularity, girls and attention. It is worth noting that commercial advertisements which once focused on adults have now shifted their attention to teenagers as a strong market for beverage and alcoholic drinks. Proof of this is the fact that more teenagers are being included in commercial advertisements.
As such the children succumb to the allure of alcoholic drinks. In addition, the escapades of movie stars who are supposed to be the role models of our society are all over the newspapers. Either these stars are caught driving under the influence or they allow themselves to be interviewed drunk and wasted. As a result, these children develop the idea that drinking is natural. Because of the society’s toleration for alcoholic drinks the young generation starts to develop a blue print in their mind that drinking is normal and acceptable.
Another reason why teenagers get hooked on alcoholic drinks is because alcohol and drugs are associated with forgetfulness. Young children nowadays are more exposed to various pressures – pressure from school, pressure from society, pressure from the family. These children turn to alcohol and drugs because they see these vices as their only way out of their problems and their misery. For them it is a solution. Let’s face it, when young kids flunk in an exam or are having a bad time with their family or their personal relationships they always turn to alcohol as a “solution” to their problems.
Some researchers consider the relationship between alcoholic drinks and the children’s intrinsic self worth. Faced with the complexities of the modern society, more children nowadays are confused. They are having a hard time looking for their own self-identity. The pressures from their family, from school, from the society and from the mass media are all taking their toll on these children. Thus, more children are confused and in search for their own self-identity. They have little regard for themselves and do not care about what they do to themselves. Confusion develops to low self esteem which in turn leads to hatred about themselves. Drinking is therefore considered as a reflection of the child’s low self-worth.
Drinking is also a manifestation of rebellious behavior. In our modern society, parents have no time for their children. As their parents compete in the highly industrialized society, more time is spent in work. With the technology available nowadays, parents are even forced to work even after office hours or even during weekends and family vacations.
As more time is spent in work, less attention is given to their own children. There is no opportunity to talk about things that are happening to the child. There no one-to-one talk about the child’s performance at school or about the child’s friends and about the child’s daily activities. Thus, teenagers hunger for the attention of their parents. They yearn for love and care of their parents which they are not getting nowadays. Drinking is considered as one way by which children communicate to their parents that they need their attention.