According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol is one of the most widely used drug substances in the world. Though legally not permitted to drink until age 21, many youth use and abuse alcohol. According to data from the CDC’s 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey, 42% of high schools students report that they currently use alcohol, and 24% report episodic heavy or binge drinking (binge drinking is defined as 5 or more drinks on a single occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on a single occasion for women, generally within about 2 hours).
Underage drinking is a serious problem, not only because it is illegal but also because of its serious short and long term effects. In the short term, the use of alcohol among youth has been linked to physical fights, risky sexual behaviors, poor school and work performance, illegal behavior and an increased risk of fatal and nonfatal injuries, including car accidents. According to the CDC Youth Behavior Surveillance, in 2009 10% of high school students reported driving a car or other vehicle during the past 30 days when they had been drinking alcohol. Overall, alcohol is a factor in approximately 41% of all deaths from motor vehicle crashes.
In the long-term, regular alcohol use is associated with liver disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological damage as well as psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety, and antisocial personality disorder. Research has also shown that youth who use alcohol before age 15 are five times more likely to become alcohol dependent than adults who begin drinking at age 21. Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with approximately 75,000 deaths per year.
To learn more about alcohol use, abuse and strategies to help prevent underage drinking visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services websites for adults and teens.