SOBERING REALITY: THE TOLL OF UNDERAGE DRINKING

WRITER: DEBI MACINTYRE

Underage alcohol use contributes to a variety of injuries and social consequences that both can be life-defining and lifethreatening.

Here are some mind-numbing statistics.

Drinking and driving: vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among youth ages 15 to 20. The rate of fatal crashes among alcohol-involved drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 is more than twice the rate for alcohol-involved drivers 21 and older.

Suicide: Alcohol contributes to conditions like depression and stress. It’s one reason why suicide is the third-leading cause of death among people ages 14 to 25.

High-risk sex: The probability of sexual intercourse increases with the amount of alcohol a person consumes. The unwanted consequences may include pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS.

Sexual assault: Alcohol used by the offender, the victim or both increases the likelihood of sexual assault made by a male acquaintance. Sexual assault, including rape, most commonly occurs within the context of a date. when a crime but is DIDYOUKNOW?

Juvenile delinquency: Locally, we know that 50 to 75 percent of youth often are under the influence of alcohol when committing a crime but is not charged with an underage drinking violation.

DID YOU KNOW?

Approximately 2,000 people under age 21 die in alcohol-related car crashes each year in the United States.

Source: the-alcoholism-guide.org/ teenage-drinking-facts.html