Teen Alcohol Use in Utah

Teen alcohol use in Utah has seen a slight decreased over the last five years, yet the numbers of youth who consume alcoholic beverages regularly is still concerning.

Teen alcohol use

The average age for kids to try alcohol is 13 years old, when hormone driven emotions are at an all-time high and the youth are more susceptible to peer pressure. Although a majority of kids state that they do not approve of teen alcohol use, data collected by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism showed that three-fourths of teens will have tried alcohol by the time they are seniors in high school.

Dangers of teen alcohol use

Teen alcohol use can start with one drink and quickly lead into other dangerous behavior such as drunk driving and binge drinking. Over 5,000 teens and young adults under the age of 21 die each year from alcohol related deaths from incidents like alcohol poisoning from binge drinking and drunk driving. Those that survive but continue with underage drinking have a heightened chance of abusing other substances such as illegal drugs, which raises the teen mortality rate as well.

Minor consumption

Another problem that can arise with teen alcohol use is minor consumption and other alcohol-related criminal charges. Teens who are caught drinking alcohol before the age of 21 risk losing their driving privileges while also being required to attend alcohol education courses. If they drink and drive however, they may face time in juvenile detention or adult jail, especially if an injury to another person occurred due to their driving intoxicated.

Preventing teen drinking

The teenage years are a difficult time when kids may be emotionally unstable while also discovering their newfound independence that comes with age. Educating teens about the harmful effects that alcohol and drugs can have on their developing brains is important as well as teaching them coping techniques for the drama that is so prominent in their lives.