Alcohol
About
Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States. As teenagers mature, it is natural for them to assert their independence, and that often turns into seeking new challenges and taking more risks. Many teens want to try alcohol but may not fully recognize the adverse effects on their health and behavior. Additionally, many teens drink due to peer pressure, a coping mechanism to relieve stress or anxiety, a desire to feel more grown up, to rebel, or out of curiosity.
Facts about youth and alcohol
There are a variety of risk factors that increase the chance of developing alcohol addiction. One of the strongest and most consistent predictors of increased risk of addiction is the age of first use. Others include family history, other existing mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and ADHD. source
Research shows that alcohol abuse during the teenage years negatively impacts the memory center of the brain (the hippocampus) and may also disrupt the development of the adolescent brain in unhealthy ways, making it harder for teens to cope with social situations and the normal pressures of life. source
Age of first drinking alcohol is critically important. Among teens who begin drinking at age 14 or younger, 40% develop an alcohol dependence, compared to a 10% chance among those who begin drinking at age 20. source
Facts about Pelham youth and alcohol
Pelham high-schoolers drink alcohol at significantly higher levels than their national and county peers. source
Binge drinking among Pelham youth jumps significantly between 10th and 12th grade. While 14% of 10th graders report binge drinking, 44% of 12th graders report the same. The same relationship exists for drinking alcohol at all, 24% of 10th graders report using alcohol in the past 30 days, whereas 56% of 12th graders report this behavior. source
Our girls report drinking at higher levels than boys (28% vs 20%), and our non-binary students report drinking at higher rates than girls (29% vs 28%). source
The top reason for using alcohol, as reported by students, is “to socialize.” source
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