Research shows authentic communication reduces risky teen drinking

Do NOT be afraid to seek help.If you do not have access to a phone contactWeb Poison Control Servicesfor online assistance. It should be clearly understood that use of alcohol by any individual under the age of 21 is a serious problem. In most states and local jurisdictions, use of alcohol by underage individuals is illegal, though there are a few exceptions. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides the most reliable estimates of alcohol use by young people in the United States. Seeking help for addiction may feel daunting or even scary, but several organizations can provide support. Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa.

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The researchers found that authentic communication; talking openly and honestly about alcohol with young people, reduces risky drinking behaviour. First, the analysis could be viewed as exploratory as the protocol was not pre-registered, although covariates were selected based on existing literature and availability. Second, the AFD measure was constructed using variables measured at Waves 2–4 in order to harness the earliest reports of first alcohol use. Third, like most cohorts, GUI has experienced differential interwave attrition, reweighting was used to account for this. Fourth, we did not examine e-cigarette use as an outcome in this study, which represents a research gap that future studies could address. Fifth, while the results are nationally representative they may not be generalisable to other contexts.

Preventing Underage Drinking

However, research has shown that underage drinking is a significant public health concern in many countries around the world and that many teens report drinking alcohol at least occasionally. In 2023, among adolescents ages 15 to 17 who reported drinking alcohol in the past month, 84.3% reported getting it for free the last time they drank.15 In many cases, adolescents have access to alcohol through family members or find it at home. Another reason your child may drink is because they want teenage alcoholism to be independent.

Schoolies week and alcohol

Remind your teen of your rules about alcohol use and enforce the consequences for breaking them. Celebrating the end of high school (schoolies week) is often linked to high levels of single-session drinking or deliberately drinking to get drunk. One of the effects of excessive alcohol use is that it interferes with vitamin B absorption, which impacts the brain’s function. Let the young person know that if they, or someone else, Substance abuse is drunk or high, they can’t give consent. You can encourage safer drinking behaviour and create a space where the young person feels safe to come to you about any questions.

• However, medical professionals have not approved any of these medications to treat alcoholism in people less than 18 years of age.
• For example, in a 2021 study by the CDC, the rates of current alcohol use were higher for students who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual compared with heterosexual students.
• However, this does not diminish the seriousness of the issue, as the rates of binge drinking among teenagers remain alarmingly high.
• However, it’s still a good idea to reach out to them — regardless of the cause of their behavior, they may need guidance and support.

If you or someone you know is experiencing harms from alcohol, it’s important to reach out for help. You can find support on your national health ministry website, or by consulting your doctor. Doctor of Philosophy graduate Dr Ross Hebden explored the impact of smartphones on young adult drinking cultures through shaping social interactions and normalising alcohol marketing. The research found this approach leads to an open and trusting environment where every family member feels comfortable discussing alcohol consumption. GUI is managed as a partnership between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Results in this report are based on analyses of data from Research Microdata Files provided by the CSO.

Alcohol is the most common drug young people use

Additionally, a Norwegian twin study from Norway concluded that the link between early alcohol initiation and later-life AUD is not causal but instead reflects shared genetic risk factors 49. These varied findings highlight the complexity of disentangling causal pathways. The North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission launched the Talk it Out NC campaign in 2014. The goal of the multimedia awareness and engagement campaign is to reduce underage drinking by encouraging conversations between responsible adults and young people. Talk it Out NC offers resources for parents and others who need guidance in talking to their children about the dangers of underage drinking.

• If you or someone you know is experiencing harms from alcohol, it’s important to reach out for help.
• Being aware of these disparities can help adults learn how to address teen alcohol use more effectively, paying particular attention to the most at-risk groups.
• It’s important to remember that binge drinking can mean that the young person might make decisions, they might not make usually.
• It started to shift the media narrative from “drunk kids” to “kids having fun without alcohol”.

• This study used prospective data to examine the relationship between AFD, AUDIT scores at age 17 and high-risk alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other drug use at age 20, in a large, nationally representative and contemporary cohort.
• Formerly known as alcoholism, alcohol use disorder (AUD) can affect people of all ages.
• Significant statistics regarding alcohol use in teens include that about half of junior high and senior high school students drink alcohol on a monthly basis, and 14% of teens have been intoxicated at least once in the past year.
• Teenagers consider zero-alcohol beverages to be a type of alcoholic drink, leading Flinders University researchers to voice grave concerns about the impact of their exposure to zero-alcohol branding and advertising.

She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information. This talk may be a challenging but necessary first step in getting your teen the help they need. However, frequent alcohol misuse may eventually lead to AUD, according to the NIAAA.