Teen Drinking

July 21st, 2010   1 Comment

As in the case of many other teen social behaviors, parents seem to learn about teen drinking when it comes to their children once it’s already gone on. Kids can be drinking and the next day you might never know. You may only find out about your child’s alcohol habit once you find a wine bottle missing, or a gin bottle filled not with its actual contents, but with water. It is important then to be vigilant and to teach children about the dangers of drinking, particularly underage drinking.

Drinking And Teen Drinking Statistics

The stats about American drinking show us why this is so. In 2008, a federally funded “Monitoring the Future” study showed that 43.1% of 12th graders had consumed at least one drink in the month before they were surveyed. For 8th graders, it was 15.9%, and 10th graders drank at a rate of 28.8%. Considering that many kids are learning to drive or driving in 10th grade, the percentage of underage drinking that occurs is all the more alarming. 14.4% of 10th graders describe themselves as having been drunk in the past month; 27.6% of 12th graders did the same (and 5.4% of 8th graders).

Alcohol Use In Teens

% of Teens Between 12-20 Reporting Past Month Binge Alcohol Use, by State: 2003 and 2004

Parental Control And Its Positive Effects

A study conducted by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) proved that parental monitoring can reduce high school drinking. And this was also linked with a lower proportion of drinking in college. In the study that involved 1200 college students questions were asked about college life and the level of teen drinking. Additional information was also collected about the level of control that was exercised by parents in school. The connection between parental supervision and relatively lower levels of drinking were obvious irrespective of gender, race or religion.

Facts about Teen Drinking that Parents need to Know

More than 1400 college students in the age group of 18-24 die from alcohol related injuries including motor crashes. The figures for injury are as high as 500,000. About 70,000 college students a year become a victim of sexual abuse in the same age group due to the effect of alcohol and 400,000 suffer the consequences of unsafe sex. A quarter of teens have academic problems due to teen drinking. About 5 percent of these teen drinking issues end up involving the police.

How can Parents Manage Teen Drinking?

The first thing that parents need to do when they are combating teen drinking is to be aware of the signs. Sudden lower grades, irritability, lack of interest in socializing, campus trouble and mood swings are some signs that parents need to be aware of. It is important that parents do not get into a blame game or a witch hunt to try and find the reasons for teen drinking. But there are ways to combat a teen drinking problem. If your teen has an alcohol problem, you can use an alcohol test to see if they have been drinking (they work just like a breathalyzer, but are a lot cheaper). Some steps that parents can take are listed here:

– Speak to the Dean or the high school/college counselor.
– Speak to the teen about the drinking and let them know that you are aware of the issue and are supportive of them, but not the drinking.
– Speak to their friends and understand the situation that they are in and how critical the teen drinking is.
– It is never too late to start the process of open communication. Come out clean with your teen about the drinking issue and other things if you have not been communicating
– At all times remember that the teen drinking is a reaction due to some issue that your teen may be having – with depression, or peer pressure, or alienation. Your teen is growing up and has different social needs. Understand those and think of when you were a teen before you react to the situation.

– Article by Anne Hamilton

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Alcohol Tests and Schools – How Alcohol Testing Can Help Your High School

April 26th, 2010  

The prevalence of underage drinking in high school will come as no surprise to an experienced school administrator.  Spring in particular is a time to be vigilant for underage drinking in high schools, as it is a very exciting time for many students.  School dances, prom, and graduation parties all mean celebration and for some students that means maybe it’s okay to sneak alcohol into the gym.

Want to know what's in the glass? Find out with an AlcoScreen Alcohol Test

Want to know what's in the glass? Find out with an AlcoScreen Alcohol Test

Well, regardless of the event, it’s still not – and underage drinking is a crime.  Kids have begun to drink at an earlier age too.  According to a US Department of Health and Human Services Alcohol Alert, “In 2003, the average age of first use of alcohol was about 14, compared to about 17 1/2 in 1965.”  This means that underage drinking is not just the realm of high school seniors anymore, but also freshmen and middle school students.

The AlcoScreen saliva alcohol test can help you defend against alcohol abuse in your school.  It is a dual purpose alcohol test that can identify someone’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at ranges from 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.08% or 0.30%.  It can also be dipped into an alcoholic beverage to qualitatively determine if it has alcohol in it.

When testing saliva, the color of the test strip will determine your results.  You can conveniently compare the shade of green of the test strip against the packaging.  When you are testing possibly alcoholic beverages, results do not follow the same color patterns – an alcohol-positive result is found when the test strip turns dark brown or black.

For teachers, parents, and school administrators, the AlcoScreen is a great tool for deterring underage alcohol abuse.  Call Home Health Testing today at 910-815-0209 to learn more about the test and our bulk pricing options.

[“Silent Water Drops” photo by Nico van der Merwe]

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Alcohol & College

April 5th, 2010  

Some of the statistics with regards to college and alcohol drinking are you might say extremely sobering. An average college student spends about $900 on alcohol every year and about 159,000 first year students will probably drop out due to some alcohol or drug related issue.

A third of college students agree that they have missed at least one class or more due to alcohol related issues. And it may surprise many to know that one night of binge drinking can make your thinking fuzzy for up to 30 days.

Today the condition is worse than you can imagine. Seventy two percent of college students claim that they consume alcohol about once every month. This number is similar for men and women. Among those under the age of 21, sixty nine percent have indulged in alcohol use in the last 30 days.

Some studies show that 43 percent of college students consume alcohol in a risky manner. Among the minority that does not consume alcohol, there are about 60 percent of people who feel that their study or sleep is often interrupted by binge drinkers. More than half have had to take care of a drunk friend.

Dangers of Alcohol Use on College Campuses

Too often alcohol becomes alcohol abuse in college environments. This is mainly because of the irresponsible manner in which college students tend to drink. Deaths from alcohol poisoning and drunk driving seem to be on the rise. Other incidents like injuries, vandalism, buy ambien crime and rape on campus has been traced back to alcohol abuse. The combination of drug and alcohol use is another potent mixture that leads to many health issues.

Busting Some Myths About College and Alcohol Use

– Many people believe that alcohol use makes them more fun to be around. But the fact is that no one finds slurring, stumbling people fun to be around. Try and think whether people are laughing at you or with you.

– “Everyone drinks heavily at parties” – Not everyone drinks heavily and you would know this for sure if you stopped drinking and noticed what everyone was doing. Most people drink moderately.

– Older college students feel that they can handle themselves and do not need to learn about alcohol use from anyone. But the fact is when you trouble other people after you indulge in alcohol abuse, you are disturbing them and so it does become their business to tell you to stop!

– There is also a feeling that college students have that they want to indulge in alcohol abuse for as long as they are in college. They feel that they will get their alcohol use under control as soon as they are out of college. The problem is that giving up on the habit is not so easy after all the months of binging.

(Make sure you or your friends are drinking at a safe level.  Pick up an alcohol test from Home Health Testing today.)

– Anne Hamilton

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The Risk Alcohol Abuse Presents to Women

March 18th, 2010  

It is a known fact that the male and female body in humans is different in many respects and it reacts to various substances in different ways. Alcohol is no different! Women are affected differently by alcohol as compared to men and therefore the acceptable level of drinking and intake are also different.

The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol Related Disorders conducted a study in conjunction with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in 2001-02 and found that 5.42 percent of males and 2.32 percent females in the US suffered from alcohol dependence. About 5 percent to 10 percent women suffer from alcoholism at some point in their lives in the US too.

It was also stated that the average age when women start to consume alcohol is older than men. However, the speed at which women progress from the first drink to dependency is far higher.

How are women affected by alcohol?

Alcohol affects various parts of the body. It is known to have an adverse effect on the brain, the heart, the liver, the stomach, the skin, the reproductive organs and the overall weight profile. Excessive drinking is known to reduce the amount of brain tissue while increasing the size of the ventricles. Those dependent tend to neglect their diet leading to heart related issues due to vitamin deficiencies. Heavy drinking can irritate the stomach and as the alcohol depresses nerve reactions, it can also disrupt your sex life.

However the most significant effects of alcohol are felt in the liver. Frequent intake and large quantities do not allow the liver cells to function properly. As Cirrhosis develops the liver tissue is unable to heal itself due to the constant consumption.

Depending on the amount of alcohol that is consumed, it is said that the individual moves from a state of euphoria to excitement to confusion to stupor and lastly to coma and death.

The effect of alcohol in women is different in women due to the lower levels water in their bodies as compared to men (compared for the same level of weight). This means that there is less availability of water for dilution in the body in the case of women. Therefore, the brain, liver and other parts of the body are exposed to a higher concentration of alcohol and toxicity.

How much is too much for a woman?

Alcohol abuse in women is defined differently than that for men. The dietary guidelines laid for women in the United States for moderate drinking are no more than one drink a day (a standard drink is defined as a 12 ounce bottle of beer, a 5 ounce glass of wine or a 1.5 ounce distilled alcohol) for women. A higher consumption is known to increase risk of accidents, injuries, high blood pressure, stroke, suicide and some types of cancer.

Symptoms of alcohol abuse in women

Alcohol abuse is a situation in which a woman starts to depend on alcohol to such an extent that she starts to harm herself and others. Missing work or failing to fulfill childcare responsibilities, drinking while driving, getting arrested for excessive drinking and aggressive behavior or continuing to drink despite family issues and tensions due to alcohol consumption are some of the symptoms of alcohol abuse in women.

Social pressures increase alcohol abuse in women

While men have been at the receiving end with regards to alcohol abuse and drinking and driving, a study conducted by U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the proportion of women involved in a drinking and driving accident increased among those in the 19+ age group. It is hypothesized that the high levels of demands from women in the modern world have increased and women are taking to alcohol for respite. Some women are known to drink excessively just to fit in!

Make sure that you are moderating your alcohol use and not making any risky decisions by carrying an alcohol test with you when you decide to drink. It is the safest way to be sure you are sober and ready to go behind the wheel.

– Anne Hamilton

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The Social Problems That Make Alcohol Testing Necessary

March 4th, 2010   1 Comment
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 percent of adults in the United States are regular drinkers (defined as at least 12 drinks in the last year). It is also estimated that among the 15.1 million alcohol dependent individuals in America, a third are women.
While limited amounts of alcohol consumption does not harm anyone, one needs to be wise enough to know how much is enough. There is also a difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. While the former refers to drinking alcohol and then indulging in socially unacceptable behavior, something that can cause physical harm to others, the latter involves a physical dependence and craving for alcohol.
Uncontrolled alcohol consumption can affect the individual as well as the society that he or she lives in. There are also certain larger societal issues that drinking causes.
Individual negative effects of alcohol abuse
In the short term alcohol consumption makes a person cheerful. Over time it can cause dehydration, lack of motor coordination, blurred vision and a lowering of inhibitions. Long term health concerns include liver health.
An initial sign that someone is beginning to develop an alcohol dependency is that they seek out alcohol drinking occasions. They look at drinking as an escape from problems. Loss of will power and inadequate attempts to seek help are common.
Loss of self control becomes a pattern among those who abuse alcohol. Friendships start to last only if the companion is an alcohol partner.
Societal concerns of excessive alcohol consumption
The social effects of alcohol are far reaching. Some of these are:
– It is estimated that more than a hundred thousand people face death due to alcohol.
– There is a considerable loss in productivity that the workforce faces at large. Estimates go up to $100 billion per year. Work accidents, absenteeism, low performance while on the job are specific ways in which the overall productivity is reduced.
– About 40 percent of industrial fatalities and 47 percent of injuries at the workplace are caused due to drinking in some way or another.
– Alcohol abuse is involved in 50 percent of driving fatalities and someone is killed in an alcohol related accident every 30 minutes in the United States.
– Lactating, breast feeding or pregnant women who drink actually feed alcohol to their babies who are unable to burn the alcohol in the way an adult liver can. Genetic disorders and other defects are more probable among babies born of drinking mothers. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are common due to alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
– 3/4ths of all domestic abuse incidents involve the consumption of alcohol by the abuser.
Knowing when you are moving from a casual drinker to one that is actively looking for alcohol almost all the time is essential. If you feel that you child or spouse is drinking more than what is considered okay, use the alcohol test to check out the number of times he or she is drinking. In the long run it may be one of the best things you can do for a person.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 percent of adults in the United States are regular drinkers (defined as at least 12 drinks in the last year). It is also estimated that among the 15.1 million alcohol dependent individuals in America, a third are women.

While limited amounts of alcohol consumption does not harm anyone, one needs to be wise enough to know how much is enough. There is also a difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. While the former refers to drinking alcohol and then indulging in socially unacceptable behavior, something that can cause physical harm to others, the latter involves a physical dependence and craving for alcohol.

Uncontrolled alcohol consumption can affect the individual as well as the society that he or she lives in. There are also certain larger societal issues that drinking causes.

Individual Negative Effects of Alcohol Abuse

In the short term alcohol consumption makes a person cheerful. Over time it can cause dehydration, lack of motor coordination, blurred vision and a lowering of inhibitions. Long term health concerns include liver health.

An initial sign that someone is beginning to develop an alcohol dependency is that they seek out alcohol drinking occasions. They look at drinking as an escape from problems. Loss of will power and inadequate attempts to seek help are common.

Loss of self control becomes a pattern among those who abuse alcohol. Friendships start to last only if the companion is an alcohol partner.

Societal Concerns of Excessive Alcohol Consumption

The social effects of alcohol are far reaching. Some of these are:

– It is estimated that more than a hundred thousand people face death due to alcohol.

– There is a considerable loss in productivity that the workforce faces at large. Estimates go up to $100 billion per year. Work accidents, absenteeism, low performance while on the job are specific ways in which the overall productivity is reduced.

– About 40 percent of industrial fatalities and 47 percent of injuries at the workplace are caused due to drinking in some way or another.

– Alcohol abuse is involved in 50 percent of driving fatalities and someone is killed in an alcohol related accident every 30 minutes in the United States.

– Lactating, breast feeding or pregnant women who drink actually feed alcohol to their babies who are unable to burn the alcohol in the way an adult liver can. Genetic disorders and other defects are more probable among babies born of drinking mothers. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are common due to alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

– 3/4ths of all domestic abuse incidents involve the consumption of alcohol by the abuser.

Knowing when you are moving from a casual drinker to one that is actively looking for alcohol almost all the time is essential. If you feel that you child or spouse is drinking more than what is considered okay, use the alcohol test to check out the number of times he or she is drinking. In the long run it may be one of the best things you can do for a person.

– Anne Hamilton

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Alcohol Test to Control Drunk Driving

December 29th, 2009  

The holiday season is considered to be one of the most hectic times for police and traffic departments due to the significant increase in impaired or drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more than 1000 people in America who are killed across the country in highway crashes between Thanksgiving and New Year. Despite the various campaigns that have been run by parents, social workers, activists and police departments, alcohol abuse and drunk driving do not seem to reduce among teenagers and adults. While there are some who are aware of the dangerous consequences and abstain from driving when drunk, guards seem generally down during the festive season between Thanksgiving and New Year.

Here are some tips that can help you stop drunk driving around you during the holiday season.

– Have a word with your teenagers and explain to them that drinking and driving shall not be tolerated. Make sure that you purchase an alcohol test that can be used at home and convey the message loud and clear to them.

– If you are hosting a party, then you should set the rules about alcohol abuse and driving when drunk upfront. If you feel that most of your guests are likely to drink through the night, make some provision for sleepovers.

– The other thing to do is to designate drivers in your group. You’ll probably have more than one party this holiday season and you can always take turns among your group of friends.

– If you are a worried about the safety of your friends, you could also carry a small alcohol test with you that can be used on the spot to determine whether someone is fit for driving or not. The alcohol tests that you can buy over the counter or online are non-invasive and easy to use. While some alcohol tests are breath analyzers, other may require a saliva sample.

– If you want to help in keeping the roads safe for yourself and your loved ones, call in the local law enforcement authorities and let them know where a dangerous car that you’ve spotted was headed. Drunk driving is not only harmful for those driving the car but also for innocent pedestrians and other vehicle drivers on the road.

– If you feel that someone is about to drive home and you feel that they are drunk try and convince them to take some form of local/public transport. Use an easy to use alcohol drug test like a breath analyzer to help prove to them that they are not fit for driving.

Many lives can be saved if we are only careful about the kind of danger that happens on the roads when people drink and drive. This kind of alcohol abuse can only stop if we are conscious and aware of the devastation such incidents can cause in the lives of people. The use of alcohol tests to ascertain drunk drivers should be encouraged so that the law can be upheld and enforced properly.

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