Alcohol stems brain development in youths under 21 years of age. (The American Medical Association).
- Alcohol may cause permanent damage to the memory and learning center inside the brain as well as decision-making and reasoning areas. (The American Medical Association).
- Nearly ΒΌ of North Carolina high school students had their first drink before the age of 13. (The Youth Risk Behavior Survey).
- Alcohol kills 6.5 times more young people under the age of 21 than all other illicit drugs combined. (DHHS)
- Alcohol is the drug of choice for underage persons in North Carolina. (DHHS)
- Seventy-five percent (75%) of all high school students drink alcohol; 24% of them are binge drinkers. (DHHS)
- Thirty-three percent of middle school students began drinking before age 11. (DHHS)
- In North Carolina, the underage consumption of alcohol costs taxpayers $1.1 billion annually.
- Alcohol is one of the most common contributors of injury, death and criminal behavior among youth.
- 95% of all violent crimes committed on college campuses are alcohol related. (N.C. Carolina Governor's Institute on Alcohol and Substance Abuse).
- In 2001, approximately 10 percent of all alcohol related fatal crashes in North Carolina involved an underage driver.
- Most teens get their alcohol from their parents or other adults over the age of 21.
- It is illegal for anyone under 21 to drive while consuming or after consuming alcohol.
- One out of 10 alcohol-related fatal wrecks involve underage drivers.
- Any reading above 0.00 on an alcohol-screening test is sufficient to convict a youth.
- Refusing to take an intoxilyzer test along with the odor of alcohol on the breath is sufficient evidence to convict an underage user.
- Children are less likely to drink when their parents spend time and interact in a positive way with them, and when they and their parents report feeling close to each other. (Journal of Studies on Alcohol).
- Adolescents drink less and have fewer alcohol-related problems when their parents discipline them consistently and set clear expectations. (Journal of Studies on Alcohol).
- Parents' drinking behaviors and attitudes of acceptance about drinking have been associated with adolescents' initiating and continuing drinking. (Journal of Studies on Alcohol).
Mothers significantly underestimate daughter's experience with alcohol:
• 16% of 13-15 year old girls say they drink with friends, only 5% of their mothers think their daughters are drinking;
• 30% of 16-18 year old girls say they drink with friends, only 9% of their mothers think their daughters are drinking;
• 51% of 19-21 year old girls say they drink with friends and only 32% of their mothers thought they were drinking.
Alarmingly, mothers say underage drinking is acceptable:
• Nearly half (49%) of mothers of teenage girls say it is okay for their daughters to drink;
• 38% of mothers say it is okay for their daughters to drink on special occasions;
• 21% of mothers say it is okay to drink under parental supervision at home;
• 20% of mothers say drinking alcohol is a natural part of growing up.
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« this page last modified 02/10/06 »
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