| Alcohol abuse is a serious problem for teens in our | | | | being involved in an accident, and bad health. A figure |
| country. It has been well publicized that drinking for | | | | that demonstrates just how dangerous alcohol is to |
| the sake of getting drunk has many negative | | | | teens is the fact that the leading cause of death |
| consequences for both adults and teens. Some of | | | | among 15 to 24 year old is motor vehicle accidents |
| these negative consequences include loss of job, | | | | involving an impaired driver. This comes out to mean |
| homicide, addiction, driving while intoxicated, and | | | | the death of nearly 8 teens every day. |
| spouse abuse. | | | | There are many reasons why teens turn to alcohol. |
| Alcoholism is not merely a problem for adults. It | | | | One reason is their desire of acceptance by their |
| would surprise many if they were to learn that | | | | peers also known as peer pressure. Teens find |
| alcohol is the most commonly abused drug in America | | | | popularity at the top of their list and drinking is a way |
| among teens today. Even though the alcohol | | | | for them to achieve that popularity. Another reason |
| consumption of our nation has been declining for | | | | teens like to drink is that it makes them feel more |
| years, the increasing number of minors who drink is | | | | grown up, which is a great desire at that age. Part of |
| getting out of hand. Today there are close to 3 | | | | this is due to the amount of exposure of teens to |
| million teens between the ages of 13 and 17 who are | | | | drinking in the media. Lastly, teens may use alcohol as |
| considered problem drinkers according to the | | | | an escape from the problems of their teenage years |
| American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition to those | | | | and the challenges that come with growing up and |
| three million, there are another 300,000 more | | | | turning into an adult. As you can see, drinking among |
| teenagers who are dependent on alcohol. Many teens | | | | teens is a growing problem that requires our |
| experience the negative consequences of alcohol | | | | attention, because teens are our future and it would |
| abuse that include poor grades, getting arrested, | | | | be best if they and our future were not impaired. |