When people hear the word “drug,” they usually think of an illegal substance such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or any other drug that can be found on the street. Most people never consider the fact that consuming alcohol can be just as harmful as illegal drugs, not only on the body, but on the mind and spirit as well. If constantly abused, alcohol can be even worse for your body than taking illegal drugs.
Irresponsible drinking can destroy a person’s life as well as the lives of those around them. When people become both physically and psychologically addicted to alcohol, they become an alcoholic and suffer from a disease called alcoholism. One denotation of this term is “a diseased condition of the system, brought about by the continued use of alcoholic liquors” (Webster’s Dictionary, 37). Alcoholism somehow affects us all through a parent, sibling, friend, or even personal encounters with a stranger. In fact alcoholics may become angry and argumentative, quiet and withdrawn, or depressed. They may also feel more anxious, sad, tense, and confused. They then seek relief by drinking more. Alcohol and Alcoholism is a big part in our society, which should be recognized and dealt with because drinking is not something that only affects the person who is drinking but everyone around them.
Among teenagers today binge drinking has become a big problem. To begin interpreting the binge-drinking phenomenon, a solid understanding of the term must be presented. Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks in rapid succession (four or more for women) at least once in a two-week period (Kapner).
Alcoholism is not contagious. You cannot ‘catch’ it. This condition is developed over a long period of time, so is it fair to say that teenagers who go to a party and have a couple of drinks are going to become alcoholics? Of course not, what I’m saying is that teenagers who get used to this kind of partying are going to be more prone to alcoholism when they become adults. I even understand why underage kids start drinking. I grew up in a very small town where there was nothing else to do so why not go out and drink. It seemed like everyone was doing it, I mean how could a couple of beers hurt? Sometimes it was fun but I never became a binge drinker. The thing that I didn’t know at the time was how only drinking a couple beers now and then, would end up changing some people’s lives five years down the road. Many of my guy friends have to drink at least eight to ten beers to get drunk because of their tolerance level has gotten higher because they started drinking at such a young age. Now it seems like they can’t go a weekend with out alcohol and most of them just turned twenty-one. When you’re in high school you don’t think of the long-term affects of things like partying and drinking.
The fact that alcohol is cheap doesn’t help either. I know of three different places that will sell any one alcohol. A lot of my friends have bought drinks at these places without being carded. Maybe if it were harder for them to get alcohol it would hinder them from trying. I don’t believe we should only blame the teens trying to get the beer; we should be punishing the places that are selling these kids the beer. People must not see what happened when young people abuse alcohol. In Belmont California there was an article in the local newspaper that shocked it’s readers:
“Binge drinking by Belmont teenagers hit unusual heights in March and endangered the lives of at least two youths, according to Acting Chief of Police Andrew E. O'Malley. During the past month there were two drinking parties hosted by teenagers that led to hospital runs for underage drinkers. At a party on March 22 police recovered four empty half-kegs of beer. The 14-year-old male host was unconscious and was transported by ambulance to the hospital. Officers found a funnel and tube used by the teen drinkers to consume beer more rapidly. Wednesday, March 5 was a day off from school, so the evening of March 4 saw a lot of teen drinking. Police took a 15-year-old boy into protective custody on Trapelo Road when a citizen reported that the boy was falling down on the street. An officer was slightly injured when he slipped on the ice while chasing the intoxicated teen.”
Will it take the death of a young teenager for people to see that there is a problem here? Between May 10 - 12, 2002, law enforcement officials investigated 72 bars and 232 retail stores across New York State for violations of the State's Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws. As a result of these investigations, a total of 139 arrests were made, including 60 for underage drinking (ABC Law), 48 for unlawful sale to a minor (ABC Law), and 21 for unlawfully dealing with a child (Penal Law). Additional arrests included criminal possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of marijuana, and several cases of using fraudulent means to obtain alcoholic beverages (using fake ID). "No mother wants to see her child arrested," said Superintendent James W. McMahon of the Albany police department, "But any police officer would rather make that arrest than notify a parent of the death or serious injury of their child, especially near Mother's Day."
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of children under age 21 in the United States. In fact, drivers under 21 years old, are killed in crashes at twice the rate of the general population, and 35 percent of those crashes involve alcohol consumption, despite a 21 year old purchase age in every state in the nation. In New York State, drivers under age 21 comprise just 5 percent of the licensed drivers, yet are involved in 14 percent of alcohol related crashes (McMahon). "Driver inexperience mixed with alcohol is a lethal cocktail," said the Superintendent. "We simply cannot, and will not, tolerate this senseless loss of life. This crackdown is just the start of what will continue through the prom and graduation season, and throughout the summer to save young lives."
I realize I keep saying “teenagers”, as if I’m trying to say you’re in high school therefore you must drink. I realize that’s not fair to say because not all kids between the ages 15-19 drink. My point is that the level of drinkers in this age group keeps getting higher and higher. The only solution is to inform high school students of the long term affects of alcohol abuse. They need to be aware that it not only affects them but their family and friends as well. No one wants to hang out with the person who doesn’t know when to stop, and is getting drunk every night and is loud and annoying. Do you really want to be that person? I would hope not because I know a guy who is just like that and I hate being around him. So you start drinking to be cool and to have friends but by the time you are an alcoholic no one wants to be around you.
High school students need to understand how drunk driving can destroy lives. We need to send speakers who have been affected by drunk driving to schools and have them tell their stories. Many teenagers think that just because it hasn’t happened to them they can go out and drink and drive home and be o.k. The sad truth is many people have to learn the hard way.
In conclusion I believe it needs to be made clear to all high school students and any teenager that irresponsible drinking can destroy a person’s life as well as the lives of those around them. We need to take responsibility for what’s happening to our youth and do anything we can to stop it. They are worth it because after all they are the future.
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