Lifetime Alcoholism Risk Is Linked to Early Aged Drinking According To Survey
The survey appeared in Volume 160, of the July issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, pages 739-746. The article states “of those 43,000 participants in a survey of U.S. adults who had developed the disease, Alcoholism; 47% of them had met the criteria for alcoholism by age 21.” That is almost half of those involved in the survey. This is important information that will support the theory that alcohol use by our youth is a risk factor for developing alcoholism and for developing it at a quicker rate and at a younger age, usually within 10 years of when they started drinking. The survey took into account other risk factors for alcohol dependence to further validate the evidence.
The survey was very specific regarding terms such as “starting to drink” did not mean tasting or sipping but actually consuming the drink. The survey involved personal interviews that were face to face. The participants in the survey were age 18 and older. The data used in the survey was gathered from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), according to the article.”
While interpreting the survey results, one may surmise that as the world ages, our youth are exposed to more intense pressures and temptations are inclined to be “in their face”. Youth may see alcohol as an answer to escape these pressures. As the survey suggests, turning to alcohol at an early age will hold lifelong consequences (namely alcoholism). The Internet is a prime example of how the trials and temptations of the day can come right into our homes. The Internet exposes our kids at an earlier age to a barrage of advertising, Websites and chat rooms that are of an adult nature. If not supervised or monitored closely enough this exposure will continue without the benefit of safeguards for health or safety. Not only are kids bombarded with stress but also they are exposed to the inappropriate ways to handle stress, especially drugs like alcohol. Communication is at lightening speed, and involves more than local participants, as the Internet is a global medium.
There is a 2005 survey that supports the finding of the previously mentioned survey. The 2005 survey is the Youth Risk Behavior Survey that was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It found that in the U.S., “26% of high school students had already consumed at least one alcoholic beverage, before the age of 13.” Based on this it would seem that there is enough evidence that youth are indeed drinking, not just experimenting with alcohol and that this could contribute to the existence of younger alcoholics. These younger alcoholics would have obviously a longer time to deal with this devastating and chronic disease. There is no telling what the ramifications of contracting Alcoholism earlier and having longer affects of the disease would have on the body and mind of those who suffer from it; one might guess that it would not be good.
Recommended Reading
- Alcoholism As Seen Through The Eyes Of A Child
