Alcoholism is a Disease, Not a Rite of Passage

The headline read "Intoxicated Students Taken To Henry Mayo." These teens were drinking at school, not just any school, but one of our local high schools. My young friend Allen, at the age of 15, was found close to death on the sidewalk near a Canyon Country park after drinking a quart of vodka in 15 minutes. Lucky for him, his friend called an ambulance and his parents. They saved his life. Year after year, despite the best efforts of parents and teachers, there are headlines across the nation (and in the Santa Clarita Valley) about teen car crashes after an exciting evening at the prom when those who attend then attend parties afterword and imbibe. A recent attempt of teen partiers to sober up a friend who was severely drunk almost killed her for lack of knowledge about alcohol poisoning. And while she made it to the hospital, her parents held vigil through the night hoping she would live. She did, but just barely. One teenager recently told me about drinking 10 shot glasses worth of alcohol at a teen party in a two-hour time period. Another who loves to party cried as she shared how she drinks, blacks out from her drinking and has been sexually assaulted while drunk.

Sadly, many teens are first presented with alcohol in their own living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens. The wink and the nod when acknowledging fake identifications and selling teens alcohol is just as prevalent. How many of you have ever been "shoulder tapped" at a local liquor store and been asked by a teen to buy alcohol? And how many of you did, thinking it is harmless - that teens have the right to party? I know, you told yourself you did it as a kid and you turned out fine.

It only takes a visit to Santa Clarita's Central Park Youth Grove Memorial to see the devastating effects alcohol has had on SCV youth. Alcohol is a drug, as surely as cocaine and marijuana are, and for many of our country's young people, alcohol is the No. 1 drug of choice. In fact, teens use alcohol more frequently and heavily than all other illicit drugs combined. While some parents may feel relieved that their teen is "only" drinking, it's important to remember that alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug.

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month and the focus is on one of the most critical public health issues in America today. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, alcohol is the No.1 drug of choice for children and adolescents, and its use is increasing. Each day, more than 7,000 kids in the United States under the age of 16 take their first drink.

The media is saturated with messages that equate alcohol with having a good time. From television and radio to popular teen magazines and the Internet, teens are bombarded with the "it's OK to drink" message. Unfortunately, no matter what the advertising vehicle is, these ads never show or tell the deadly consequences of teenage alcohol use.

Alcohol is a drug that can affect judgment, coordination, and long-term health, and research suggests that early use of alcohol by teenagers may contribute significantly to dependence on alcohol and other drugs later in life, with 40 percent of children who begin using alcohol before the age of 13 becoming alcoholics at some point in their lives. Alcohol is the No.1 drug of choice among America's youth and is a factor in the four leading causes of death among persons ages 10 24.

Not only does alcohol affect the mind and body in unpredictable ways, teens lack the judgment and coping skills to handle alcohol wisely.

We know that significant brain development continues through adolescence. A recent study by the National Institute of Health presents the first concrete evidence that heavy alcohol use can impair brain function in adolescents, causing, in many cases, irreversible damage.

Alcohol-related traffic accidents are a major cause of death and disability among teens. Alcohol use also is linked with the deaths of young people by drowning, fire, suicide and homicide.

Teens who use alcohol are more likely to become sexually active at earlier ages, to have sexual intercourse more often, and to have unprotected sex more than teens who do not drink.

Young people who drink are more likely than others to be victims of violent crime, including rape, aggravated assault and robbery.

Teens who drink are more likely to have problems with school work and school conduct. An individual who begins drinking as a young teen is four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than someone who waits until adulthood to use alcohol.

The message is clear - alcohol use is a very risky business for young people. And the longer children delay alcohol use, the less likely they are to develop any problems associated with it.

Could Your Child Develop a Drinking Problem?

Kids at highest risk for alcohol-related problems are those who begin using alcohol or other drugs before the age of 15; have a parent who is a problem drinker or an alcoholic; have close friends who use alcohol and/or other drugs; have current behavioral problems and/or are failing at school; have parents who do not support them, do not communicate openly with them, and do not keep track of their behavior or whereabouts.

The more of these experiences a child has had, the greater the chances that he or she will develop problems with alcohol. Having one or more risk factors does not mean your child definitely will develop a drinking problem. It does suggest, however, you may need to act now to help protect your youngster from later problems.

Help your child say "NO" to drinking. At some point, your child will be offered alcohol. To resist such pressure, teens say they prefer quick "one-liners" that allow them to dodge a drink without making a big scene. It will probably work best for your teen to take the lead in thinking up comebacks to drink offers so he or she will feel comfortable and confident saying them. To get the brainstorming started, words like "no thanks" "alcohol's not my thing" "I don't feel like it, do you have any soda?" "Why do you KEEP pressuring me when I've said NO" will work.

Some parents may suspect that their child already has a drinking problem. While it can be hard to know for sure, certain behaviors can alert you to the possibility of an alcohol problem. Mood changes such as flare-ups of temper, irritability, and defensiveness; school problems, including poor attendance, low grades, and/or recent disciplinary action; finding alcohol in your child's room or backpack, or smelling alcohol on his or her breath; switching friends, along with a reluctance to have you get to know the new friends; and a "nothing matters" attitude, for example - sloppy appearance, a lack of involvement in former interests, and general low energy are often clues.

Some parents say that because alcohol is a legal drug, it's hard for them to think of it as being dangerous. Other parents say they find it difficult to talk about alcohol because they drink. It's never too early to start talking with your child about drinking. Some children start asking questions when they are age 4 or 5. Many parents make the mistake of waiting until their child has begun drinking. However if you listen and respond to your child early on in life, you may be able to prevent problems from developing later.

The road to adulthood isn't an easy one, but when it comes to alcohol and children, it's a dead-end street. If you think your child may be in trouble with drinking, you can protect them from years of pain by seeking advice from a mental health professional specializing in alcohol problems as soon as possible. The life you save may be your child's.

The Signal