Is It True That People Who Begin To Drink Alcohol Before Age 15 Are More Likely To Get Addicted Than Those Who Begin At The Legal Age Of 21 Or Later?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Young people who began drinking before age 15 were

four times more likely to develop alcohol

dependence (alcohol addiction, commonly known as alcoholism) than those who began drinking at age 21, researchers found.

What age are you most likely to become an alcoholic?

The key finding of the NIAAA research was that people who started drinking before age 15 were 50% more likely to become alcohol dependent as adults. The same was true to a lesser extent for those who started drinking between ages 15 and 17.

Can alcohol affect a 15 year old?


Drinking alcohol can damage a child's health

, even if they're 15 or older. It can affect the normal development of vital organs and functions, including the brain, liver, bones and hormones.

What percent of teenage drinkers become alcoholics?

Overall,

up to 12% of young

people ages 12 to 20 years old meet the criteria for a diagnosis of or dependence. This pattern may continue as they get older. About 12% of teen males and 3% of teen females are chronic heavy drinkers in high school and continue to drink heavily as adults.

What are three reasons teens should not drink?

  • It's illegal.
  • Effect on health.
  • Effect on grades.
  • Parents don't approve.
  • Don't want to be like others who drink.

Is it OK to drink alcohol at 14?

Drinking may cause youth to have

trouble in school

or with the law. Drinking alcohol also is associated with the use of other substances. Research shows that people who start drinking before the age of 15 are at a higher risk for developing alcohol use disorder later in life.

Why do teens drink alcohol?

Some reasons that teens use alcohol and other drugs are:

curiosity

.

to feel good, reduce stress, and relax

.

to fit in

.

Which race consumes the most alcohol?


Native Americans

have the highest prevalence (12.1 percent) of heavy drinking (i.e., five or more drinks on the same occasion for 5 or more of the past 30 days; followed by Whites (8.3 percent) and Hispanics (6.1 percent).

Can college students be alcoholics?

College alcoholism affects millions of students every year. …

Roughly 80 percent of college students

– four out of every five – consume alcohol to some degree. It's estimated that 50 percent of those students engage in binge drinking, which involves consuming too much alcohol in too little time.

What are three reasons to not drink?

  • Alcohol may lead to weight gain.
  • Alcohol interferes with memory and learning.
  • Alcohol increases the likelihood that you will use other drugs.
  • Alcohol increases your risk of developing cancer.
  • Alcohol can lead to liver disease and other severe, chronic diseases.

Why teens shouldn't drink and drive?

Alcohol isn't just illegal for teenagers to consume—

it can be deadly if they drink

and drive. In fact, drunk driving is one of the most frequent causes of death among teens. Alcohol impairs most of the skills that young drivers need the most, such as their reaction time, their vision, and their judgment.

How long does drunk last?

How long do alcohol effects last? Generally speaking, it takes

about 6 hours

for the effects of being drunk to wear off. If you count the hangover/detoxification period that happens after drinking alcohol, the effects may last longer.

Can a 13 year old drink Red Bull?

(According to guidelines put forth by the American Beverage Association, a trade group,

energy drinks should not be marketed to children under 12

, and other leading brands such as Red Bull and Rockstar carry similar labels recommending against consumption by children.)

What happens if a 14 year old drinks coffee?

Your 14 year old should not be drinking coffee. Coffee at such a young age can cause heart problems, high blood pressure, hyper activity, teeth decay,

stunts growth

, and can stop brain growth. Decaf is the better option, but try to refrain from giving him coffee.

Should I let my 17 year old drink alcohol?


There really is no safe way for teenagers and underage kids to drink alcohol

. Parents – even well-intentioned parents – who allow kids to do so in their homes are under the false sense of security that it's less dangerous.

What religion has the most alcoholics?

Among U.S. Christians, for example,

Catholics

are more likely than Protestants to say they've consumed alcohol in the past 30 days (60% vs. 51%). Adults who don't belong to any religion, meanwhile, are more likely (24%) than both Catholics (17%) and Protestants (15%) to have engaged in binge drinking in the past month.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.