Teens say 5 drinks a day no big deal
Five or so alcoholic drinks nearly every day is no biggie, nearly half (45 percent) of the teens interviewed said in a new study announced this week.
The study, released Wednesday by The Partnership at Drugfree.org, also showed upward trends in marijuana and Ecstasy use among young people in grades 9 through 12.
But it did find that the percentage of teens having a drink in the past month is down. It was at 35 percent last year, as compared to 50 percent in 1998.
So what do you think their average age was when they had their first drink”
The answer is 14.
Some 68 percent said they had consumed alcohol at some point in their young lives. Of those, a fourth of them had their first drink when they were 12 or younger.
Surprised?
Peer pressure has a lot to do with it. It always has had. According to the study, the top reasons the teen gave for drinking were because it is fun and because they didn’t want to be left out.
But we all know other factors, such as vulnerability, contribute pressure.
The main things are to support them and get them help.
Learn more about this and other dangers for our youth at http://knowit.newsok.com/addiction-oklahoma and you’ll see what’s happening and what can be done.
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