Adolescent Behavior Affected
by Alcohol Use
A new study shows that
adolescents who use alcohol are more likely to have behavioral problems than
their peers, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA).
The report, called Patterns of Alcohol Use
Among Adolescents and Associations with Emotional and Behavioral Problems,
found that 12- to 17-years-olds who use alcohol are more likely to report
behavioral problems, in particular aggressive, delinquent and criminal
behaviors.
The report further found that adolescents
who drink are more likely to use illicit drugs compared to non-drinkers.
Adolescents who were heavy drinkers were 16 times more likely to have used an
illicit drug in the past month, while light drinkers were eight times more
likely to use illicit drugs.
"Underage drinking -- even so-called
light drinking - -is dangerous, illegal, and must not be tolerated," said
SAMHSA Administrator Nelba Chavez. "This study points out that the effects
of underage alcohol use extend far beyond 'drinking and driving.' Parents need
to know that alcohol use can also be a warning sign or a cry for help that
something is seriously wrong in a child's life."
Chavez recommended that parents,
counselors, teachers, coaches and other caring adults "reach children
early enough so they can intervene before troubling behaviors lead to serious
emotional disturbances, illicit drug use, school failure, family discord,
violence, or even suicide."
There are currently 10.4 million underage
drinkers in the
The report also found that adolescents who
were heavy drinkers were four times more likely to commit theft outside the
home than non-drinking adolescents. In addition, heavy drinking teens were
three times more likely to try to deliberately hurt or kill themselves or get
into a physical fight.
Heavy drinkers also were five times more
likely to drive under the influence of alcohol and four times more likely to
drive while under the influence of drugs.
The study was based on
findings from a sample of 18,000 adolescents who participated in SAMHSA's 1994,
1995 and 1996 National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse.