Topic: Discuss the developments of alcoholism amongst youths

Contents

1. What is alcoholism?
2. What are youths?
3. The 7 symptoms of an Alcohol Problem
4. The causes of Alcohol abuse and alcoholism in youth
5. The prevalence and effects of Alcohol abuse and alcoholism in youth
6. Solutions to alcoholism in youth
7. Binge drinking among youths
   
8. How to tell a youth has drinking problem?
9. Conclusion

1. What is Alcoholism?
   
   According to wikipedia.org, alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions. It refers to any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages despite the health problems and negative social consequences it causes. In medical definitions, it describes alcoholism as a disease which results in a persistent use of alcohol despite negative consequences. Alcoholism may also refer to a preoccupation with or compulsion toward the consumption of alcohol and/or an impaired ability to recognize the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Although not all of these definitions specify current and on-going use of alcohol as a qualifier, some do, as well as remarking on the long-term effects of consistent, heavy alcohol use, include dependence and symptoms of withdrawal.
   
   
   

2. What are youths?
   
   According to wikipedia.org, youth is defined by Webster's New World Dictionary as, "The time of life when one is young; especially the period between childhood and maturity and the early period of existence, growth, or development."
   
   

3. The 7 Symptoms of Alcohol Problem
   
   The 7 symptoms of alcohol problem are
   

• Neglect of other Activities: Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use;
• Excessive Use: Alcohol is consumed in larger amounts over a longer period than intended;
• Impaired control: Ongoing, unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol consumption;

• Persistence of Use: Alcohol consumption is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely caused or exacerbated by alcohol;

• Large Amounts of Time Spent in Alcohol Related Activities: A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain, use or recover from the effects of alcohol;

• Withdrawal: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking;

• Tolerance: The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.
  
  

4. The causes of Alcohol abuse and alcoholism in youth
   
   While drinking may be a singular problem behavior for some, research suggests that for others it may be an expression of general adolescent turmoil that includes other problem behaviors and that these behaviors are linked to unconventionality, impulsiveness, and sensation seeking.
   
   The high prevalence of alcohol use among youth is also attributed to the puberty, increasing independence and thrill seeking leading to experimentation with alcohol.
   
   Those with several psychiatric problems, such as: depression, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), antisocial personality disorder are most at risk for alcohol problems.
   
   Parents' drinking behavior and favorable attitudes about drinking have been positively associated with adolescents' initiating and continuing drinking. Children who were warned about alcohol by their parents and children who reported being closer to their parents were less likely to start drinking.
   
   Lack of parental support, monitoring, and communication have been significantly related to frequency of drinking, heavy drinking, and drunkenness among adolescents. Harsh, inconsistent discipline and hostility or rejections toward children have also been found to significantly predict adolescent drinking and alcohol-related problems.
   
   Peer drinking and peer acceptance of drinking have also been associated with adolescent drinking.
   

5. The prevalence and effects of Alcohol abuse and alcoholism in youth
   
   According to research by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, adolescents who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21.
   An early age of drinking onset is also associated with alcohol-related violence not only among persons under age 21 but among adults as well.
   
   Studies have shown that many adolescents start drinking at a very young age. It has been estimated that over three million teenagers are out-and-out alcoholics. Several million more have a serious drinking problem that they cannot manage on their own.
   
   The three leading causes of death for 15- to 24-year-olds are automobile crashes, homicides and suicides -- alcohol is a leading factor in all three.
   
   Alcohol use among adolescents has also been associated with considering, planning, attempting, and completing suicide. Research does not indicate whether drinking causes suicidal behavior, only that the two behaviors are correlated.
   
   There are also associated health risks such as brain damage, liver damage as well as upsetting one's hormone balances.
   

6. Solutions to alcoholism in youth
   
   The most common and effective way for an individual to combat his or her addictive behaviors is through a self-help support group, with advice and support from a health care professional. Treatment should also involve family members because family history may play a role in the origins of the problem and successful treatment cannot take place in isolation.
   
   Environmental approaches should also be considered, such as raising the price of alcohol, increasing the minimum legal drinking age, stepping up enforcement of laws and so on. Prevention programs should also be hosted to educate and encourage youth not to drink. There are many other preventive measures that can be taken.
   

7. Binge drinking among youths
   
   Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks during a drinking session at least once in the month. Prevalence of binge drinking is an emerging problem and is rising increasingly among youths in countries like Singapore over the past decade. In other countries, this problem is even worse. In a recent study in USA, 29% of 12th graders engaged in binge drinking in the past 2 weeks. There are roughly 1 million frequent binge drinkers among high school students in the USA.
   
   Binge drinking, often beginning around age 13, tends to increase during adolescence, peak in young adulthood (ages 18-22), then gradually decrease. Individuals who increase their binge drinking from age 18 to 24 and those who consistently binge drink at least once a week during this period may have problems attaining the goals typical of the transition from adolescence to young adulthood (e.g., marriage, educational attainment, employment, and financial independence).
   
   This in turn has negative effects on youth, as frequent binge drinkers are more likely to turn to other soft and hard drugs, have sex with many partners, do badly or failing in their academic studies, and so on.
   
   

8. How to tell a youth has drinking problem?
   
   Sometimes, it is pretty difficult to tell if a youth is having any drinking problems, but signs of youth who has drinking problem will appear. For example, a youth get drunk on a regular basis but yet lying upon how much alcohol he/she had been taking in. Believing that alcohol is a necessary to create fun and he/she has frequent hangovers. Showing signs of run-down, depressed, or even suicidal. Having "blank" and forgetting what he/she had done while drinking.
   
   If he/she has one or more of the following warning signs, he/she may have a problem with alcohol.
   Besides looking out for warning signs, youth could take part in answering alcohol use disorders identification test to find out if they have drinking disorders. The following to links allow you to check if the youth is having drinking problems or not.

Source: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2001/WHO_MSD_MSB_01.6a.pdf Source: http://www.counseling.caltech.edu/drug/selftest/test1.html

9. Conclusion
   
   Overall, since alcohol is by far the most used and abused drug among America’s teenagers. According to a national survey, nearly one third (31.5%) of all high school students reported hazardous drinking (5+ drinks in one setting) during the 30 days preceding the survey. therefore alcohol is a leading cause of death among youth, particularly teenagers.
   
   
   Youths get their sources of alcohol easily. Youths tend to get drunk easily and cause trouble to others in the public. Examples are motor vehicle crashes, other traumatic injuries, suicide, date rape, and family and school problems. Youths do not have a self control to limit themselves from getting drunk and leaving others to clean up their mess. Some other youths abuse alcohol and use that as a excuse for their senseless actions to the public.
   
   Furthermore, drinking has increased in Singapore especially among youths, causing many negative consequences in many areas of their lives.