Underage Drinking - Teenage Girls Quicker to try Alcohol than Boys

This would definitely not have parents fawning at their teenaged girls who, according to a new study in

the United States, have begun to taste alcohol earlier than boys. It has now reached the proportion of a

public health issue, according to lead researcher Dr. Hui Cheng, an adjunct assistant professor at Michigan

State University.

Teens’ underage drinking could be a huge pain for the parents. According to the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics, each year there are more than 4,300 deaths due to excessive

underage drinking. It cost the U.S. a whopping $24 billion in 2010.

The dangers of

underage drinking are

quite palpable with

approximately

189,000 emergency

rooms visits by

persons under 21

years for injuries and

other conditions

linked to alcohol in

2010. On average,

underage drinkers

consume more drinks

per drinking occasion

than adult drinkers,

the CDC says.

And, with teenaged

girls beginning to

taste alcohol earlier

than boys, it has now reached a crescendo which needs to be addressed at the earliest.

Possible reasons for girls trying alcohol earlier

"We really don't know why girls are surpassing boys – that's the next question we want to answer," said

Dr. Cheng. The primary cause driving this trend is that drinking has become more socially accepted,

according to her. Since girls attain the age of puberty earlier, they develop this proclivity to engage in risky

behaviors, and drinking is one such behavior. Moreover, spending more time with older boys has also

goaded them to take the plunge. Hence, the teenage girls have greater exposure to drinking.

According to the study, published in the journal Alcoholism Clinical & Experimental Research in April 2016,

advertisements aimed at girls promoting sweet, fruit-flavored drinks, such as wine coolers, are also partly

responsible for this anomaly. Feeling unloved, forlorn or perpetuating peer pressure, which is normal at

this age, too prompt girls to try alcohol.

Cheng said that most strategies to curb underage drinking are designed keeping the boys in mind, while

the girls are completely left out in the bargain. Therefore, it calls for more policies now to address the

girls’ underage drinking problem.

Girls more likely to start drinking in mid-adolescence

For the study, the researchers collated extensive data from the government surveys on drug use and

health between 2002 and 2013. They studied the trend on about 390,000 U.S. children and young adults

aged 12 to 24 who had participated in those surveys and found that in mid-adolescence girls are more

likely to start drinking than boys. However, after age 19, boys went on to drink more than girls, the

researchers added.

Until now, the general belief was that males were more active drinkers than females. However, the latest

revelation brings females at par with males. Aaron White, senior scientific advisor to the director of the

U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, said, "Males still consume more alcohol, but the

differences between men and women are diminishing."

Preventive measures

The researchers stressed at more efforts to educate adolescent girls as well as boys about the risks of

starting to drink at a young age. Further studies should be conducted to gain more perspective and

ascertain whether starting to drink earlier is linked to developing alcohol problems as one gets older.

Alcoholism can be treated with effective programs and a timely intervention. If a loved one is addicted to

alcohol and you are looking for alcohol treatment centers in Florida, call the Florida Alcohol Addiction

Helpline at 866-220-5381 for prompt help. Our experts, available 24/7, can guide you to the best alcohol

rehab centers in Florida.

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www.floridaalcoholaddictionhelpline.com