11 Facts about Alcohol Abuse

Every year, more than 5,000 deaths of people under age 21 are linked to underage drinking.
Alcohol is a leading factor in automobile crashes, homicides, and suicides – the three leading causes of death for people aged 15 to 24.
By age 14, 41% of children have had at least one drink.
Americans begin drinking regularly at an average age of 15.9 years.
Teens who begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21.
17.6 million Americans either abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent.
An estimated 3 million teenagers are alcoholics, and several million more have a serious drinking problem they can’t manage on their own.
Alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18-29.
In 2005, underage drinkers consumed 15% of the alcohol sold in the U.S., spending $19.8 billion in sales.
In the same year, underage drinking cost the citizens of the U.S. $60.3 billion in medical care, work loss, and pain and suffering.
Underage drinking plays a significant role in risky sexual behavior, such as unwanted, unintended, and unprotected sexual activity. This behavior increases the risk for unplanned pregnancy and STDs.