Question

During the adolescent years, it is common to participate in behaviors that are rebellious or peer influenced. One of the most common activities is adolescent drinking. It is estimated that nearly 75% of college students consume alcohol within a 30 day period and more than half of all 12th graders have been intoxicated at some point in their lives (Feldman, 2015). The problem with these statistics is majority of these surveyed are participating in binge drinking and not just having a social drink. Binge drinking is drinking multiple drinks during a sitting, resulting in being intoxicated. Binge drinking can cause a lot of unusual behaviors that not only directly affect the person drinking but the population surrounding the person. Binge drinking as also shown to disturb the white matter on brain scams and has the potential to open the doorway to alcoholism. Alcohol addiction or alcoholism is when a person cannot control their alcohol use and are unable to stop drinking once they begin. This can make a person binge drink or even drink continuously throughout the day. It is not entirely clear as to what makes a person an alcoholic but genetics does play a role. Adolescents with parents or family members who have an addiction to alcohol have an increased risk factor to becoming addicted as well. An increase in stress or a need to release tension can be other reason for adolescents to become addicted. Some interventions taken to encourage adolescents to not participate in drinking are joining peer groups or having friends that hold higher standards. Surrounding yourself with peers that do not participate in drinking is a great first step but not always an option. In the event a adolescent finds themselves at a party where underaged drinking is occurring, they should try to be a designated driver or a sober friend to ensure others are safe. Some high schools have ‘project graduations’ or ‘sober prom committees’ to give students other options other than going down the shore to party. There are also plenty of dry college campuses which can help discourage some, but of course not all, students from drinking. Resident advisors at college dorms can also help maintain a sober living environment and encourage underclassmen to participate in scheduled events and activities that do not include drinking. One of the most important influences for adolescents not to drink is having a healthy example within their own parents. Talking to your adolescent child about avoiding groups that participate in drinking and partying while maintaining an open relationship with them can help tremendously with these situations.

IN 9-10 LINES, WHAT DO YOU AGREE ON THIS PAGE OR HOW WOULD COMMENT?

Answer 1

Drinking can be done socially or it becomes addictive as early as one can think.Alchohol dependancy starts as early as adolescence.In most cases children are introduced to alchohol and smoking from school dyas.The age for experiment is as early as 13 years.Parents at this stage should be open in discussing these issues with the child.Asking a child to stay away from such people may not be very effective as the child is always under peer pressure to be social.The ill effects of drinking and smoking should be discussed with the child for him to understand why we are asking him to refrain from such friends.The parents should not create a fear ,rather they should be a friend where a child can confide in them,for example if he has had even one drink,he should be able to discuss with his parents that he had a drink.Fear or negative emotion to the problem will push the child to take comfort with his peers.