Alcohol Abuse amongst Teenagers

Good morning, I am here today on behalf of the local hospital to talk about alcohol abuse amongst youth. Today, the use of alcohol amongst teenagers, is rapidly increasing. Adolescence is a time of trying new things - and for some young people, this includes trying alcohol. It is believed that approximately 50% of junior and senior high students drink alcohol on a monthly basis. 'Binge drinking' in particular, is a growing concern with the teen generation. As a nurse in the emergency department, I am seeing way too many examples of what horrific stuff this drug is doing to the bodies of our adolescents. Approximately 5,000 young people each year, under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking. This includes 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, 1,600 as a result of homicides, 300 from suicide, as well as hundreds from other injuries such as falls, burns, and drowning's.

Teenage alcohol consumption is an extremely dangerous activity that must be eliminated immediately. I believe that the parents of today's youth have to take back the stand and teach their children how to keep safe in situations involving alcohol. So, I urge parents to share with their children the risks of alcohol and to inform them about some facts that instruct them how to take responsible actions instead of actions that could harm themselves and other people.

Adolescents today are not recognising the serious risks and effects of abusing alcohol, as they do not think about the negative side of drinking. Therefore, parents and teenagers need to learn exactly what this drug is doing to their bodies. We all know the common risks of drinking alcohol for example causing car accidents, getting into fights or arguments, missing work. But what...