Alcohol doesn't necessarily carry the same stigmas associated with
illegal drugs. However, studies reveal that more American youths die
from alcohol abuse than from all other forms of drug abuse combined.
With deteriorating affects on the brain, stomach, and liver, the affects
of alcohol are highly damaging to the developing body of a teenager. Of
course, there are long-term effects of alcohol abuse, but equally as
dangerous are the immediate consequences of binge drinking. Binge
drinking is a form of heavy, episodic drinking that has proven to be a
trend among college-aged individuals. Recognizing the phenomenon, the
National Advisory Council provided the following definition:
"A
'binge' is a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) to 0.08 gram-percent or above. For a typical adult,
this pattern corresponds to consuming 5 or more drinks (male), or 4 or
more drinks (female), in about 2 hours."
When binge drinking, the
body's defenses are overwhelmed by the depressant effects of alcohol
resulting in impairments in speech and reflexes. Aside from the physical
effects, the influence of alcohol will leave people unable to make
rational decisions thus leading to unfortunate consequences. Studies
reported by the national campaign, "Above the Influence" expose that
approximately 5,000 people under the age of 21 die as a result of
underage drinking related incidents (with nearly 2,000 of the deaths due
to car accidents.)
Another threat to underage drinking is alcohol
poisoning. Alcohol poisoning is a serious-sometimes lethal- condition
resultant from binge drinking. The consequences of consuming large
amounts of alcohol in brief periods of time can immediately affect one's
heart rate and breathing and may eventually lead to coma or death.
When
examining the trends in youth drinking, a direct correlation can be
drawn between habits and environment. The pressure to drink
irresponsibly is perpetuated by the atmosphere. In college, young adults
are experiencing their first taste of independence (a sensation which
is intoxicating in and of itself.) It can take time to develop healthy
habits for self-governing and, in the meanwhile, young adults should be
made aware of the possible consequences of their actions.
There
have been multiple gestures made by governmental organizations to
encourage self-promoting habits among the nation's youth. For one, the
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion employed April as
"Alcohol Awareness Month" in an attempt to have a pro-active influence
on future choice making. In correspondence with Alcohol Awareness Month,
the National Health Information Center distributed a toolkit including
strategies to cut back on or cease drinking altogether. Some of these
strategies included:
* Keep track of your drinking and set a drinking limit.
* Try to avoid places where heavy drinking occurs.
* Ask for help from a doctor, family, or friends.
* If you keep alcohol in your home, keep only a limited supply.
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