11 Facts About Teens And Alcohol

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1. In 2012, nearly 3/4 of students (72%) have consumed alcohol (more than just a few sips) by the end of high school, and more than 1/3 (37%) have done so by 8th grade.^[University of Michigan. "NATIONAL SURVEY RESULTS ON DRUG USE, 1975–2009." Monitoring the Future. Accessed February 24, 2014, http://monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/vol1_2009.pdf.]
2. According to a study by Columbia University, underage drinkers account for 11.4% of all of the alcohol consumed in the U.S.^[Columbia University. "New Study in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and CASA* Report Reveal: Underage Drinkers, Alcoholics and Alcohol Abusers Consume Between 37.5% and 48.8% of Alcohol Sold." CASAColumbia. Accessed February 25, 2014, http://www.casacolumbia.org/newsroom/press-releases/2006-apam-commercial-value-of-underage-drinking.]
3. The average age teen boys first try alcohol is age 11, for teen girls it’s 13.^[Harvard Health Publications. "Teenage Drinking." Help Guide. Accessed February 22, 2014, http://www.helpguide.org/harvard/alcohol_teens.htm.]
4. Nearly 10 million young people, ages 12 to 20, reported that they've consumed alcohol in the past 30 days.^[Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. "National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings." Results from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Accessed February 25, 2014, http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2012SummNatFindDetTables/NationalFindings/NSDUHresults2012.htm.]
5. Teens who start drinking before age 15 years are 5 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after the legal age of 21.^[USA.gov. "Fact Sheets - Underage Drinking." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed February 24, 2014, http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/underage-drinking.htm.]
6. In 2010, there were approximately 189,000 emergency rooms visits by teens under age 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol.^[USA.gov. "Fact Sheets - Underage Drinking." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed February 24, 2014, http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/underage-drinking.htm.]
7. Teens who drink heavily are three times more likely to try and hurt themselves (self-harm, attempt suicide etc.) than those who don't.^[Marrow, M.S., Deborah. "Teenage Drinking Facts The Effects Of Teenage DrinkingTeenage Drinking Statistics." The Alcoholism Guide. Accessed February 25, 2014, http://www.the-alcoholism-guide.org/teenage-drinking-facts.html.]
8. 9 out of 10 American teens report that drinking is not worth the consequences it can cause.^[Century Council. "Underage Drinking Research." Century Council. Accessed February 23, 2014, http://www.centurycouncil.org/underage-drinking/underage-drinking-research.]
9. The 3 leading causes of death for 15 to 24-year-olds are automobile crashes, homicides and suicides – alcohol is a leading factor in all 3.^[Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "The Toll of Underage Drinking." The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth. Accessed February 25, 2014, http://www.camy.org/factsheets/sheets/The_Toll_of_Underage_Drinking.html.]
10. In 2010, 56% of drivers aged 15 to 20 who were killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt.^[USA.gov. "Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed February 25, 2014, http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html.]
11. The rate of current alcohol consumption increases with age, according to the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, from 2% at age 12 to 21% at age 16, and 55% at age 20.^[Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. "National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings." Results from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Accessed February 25, 2014, http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2012SummNatFindDetTables/NationalFindings/NSDUHresults2012.htm.]