Teen Drinking and Drug UseTeen Drinking and Drug Use

By Bobby Michienzi, Selina RungeBy Bobby Michienzi, Selina Runge

60.5% of teens who took this survey said most of their friends drink.

This was one of the most diverse answered questions.

The amount that kids drink varies from never to daily.

- 90% of kids said that they drink at parties- 90% of kids said that they drink at parties

- 60% said at home- 60% said at home

- And 40% said the woods is the cool place - And 40% said the woods is the cool place to drink.to drink.

• 83.3% of us feel that drinking and 83.3% of us feel that drinking and drugs have an effect on our life in drugs have an effect on our life in high school.high school.

Again, 83.3% of teens feel that they are more Again, 83.3% of teens feel that they are more likely to make a bad decision when they are likely to make a bad decision when they are not sober. not sober.

These include any decision you would regret These include any decision you would regret making when you sober up, wheather it me making when you sober up, wheather it me violence, sex, or drama.violence, sex, or drama.

One of the most surprising results is One of the most surprising results is that only 44% of students would that only 44% of students would support the drinking age to be support the drinking age to be lowered to 18.lowered to 18.

Nobody thought that drug use was Nobody thought that drug use was more popular than drinking , but more popular than drinking , but most people said that drinking and most people said that drinking and drug use are about equally as drug use are about equally as popular.popular.

More than three quarters of teens feel More than three quarters of teens feel that teen drinking and drug use are more that teen drinking and drug use are more likely to do something sexual that they likely to do something sexual that they would regret when sober.would regret when sober.

Teens feel that even if the drinking Teens feel that even if the drinking age is lowered that it would only age is lowered that it would only have a small effect on the amount of have a small effect on the amount of drinking done by teens. drinking done by teens.

Here are some teens opinions:Here are some teens opinions: I think it's inevitable. People are going to drink and do I think it's inevitable. People are going to drink and do

what they want. I personally don't like drinking or what they want. I personally don't like drinking or would never do drugs. would never do drugs.

What's the point? If you really think it's absolutely What's the point? If you really think it's absolutely necessary to have (drugs and) alcohol in your life, at necessary to have (drugs and) alcohol in your life, at least wait till the most important years of high school least wait till the most important years of high school and college are done with. I don't think most teens and college are done with. I don't think most teens even really take the time to think about what they do, even really take the time to think about what they do, they just do it. And don't care because "it's not a big they just do it. And don't care because "it's not a big deal". From personal and others experience, it's not a deal". From personal and others experience, it's not a necessary thing at all in any way, shape, or form. necessary thing at all in any way, shape, or form. Kids really need some self-reevaluation. Kids really need some self-reevaluation.

More OpinionsMore Opinions

I think that teens are misinformed on I think that teens are misinformed on drugs and alcohol, and the whole drugs and alcohol, and the whole idea of "don't do it!" isn't working. idea of "don't do it!" isn't working.

It is always going to happen, you It is always going to happen, you can't stop it. can't stop it.

As long as you can control yourself As long as you can control yourself drinking is completely finedrinking is completely fine

Drinking is okay... but hugs not drugsDrinking is okay... but hugs not drugs

Stats from the SADD website: In 2005, about 10.8 million persons ages 12-20 (28.2% of this age group) reported

drinking alcohol in the past month. Nearly 7.2 million (18.8%) were binge drinkers, and 2.3 million (6.0%) were heavy drinkers

Young adults ages 18-22 enrolled full-time in college were more likely than their peers not enrolled full time to use alcohol in the past month, to binge drink, and to drink heavily.

Three out of every four students (75%) have consumed alcohol (more than just a few sips) by the end of high school

About two fifths of students (41%) have consumed alcohol (more than just a few sips) by 8th grade.

Adults age 21 or older who had first used alcohol before age 21 were more likely than adults who had their first drink at age 21 or older to be classified with alcohol dependence or abuse (9.6% vs. 2.1%).

http://www.sadd.org/stats.htm#underage