Teen Drinking

February 08, 2009

Today's Boston Globe ran an article about Teen Drinking... that shows it not only happens in big cities, but also in small towns. Even in Vermont, which was named the healthiest state in the US in 2008, middle school and high school kids are drinking - a lot. In 2008 they had the highest rate of teen alcohol use and the second highest rate of binge drinking. The average first alcohol use was 12; for marijuana use it was 13.

There is a lot of peer pressure and kids want to be cool. But are they? Alcohol is toxic to the brain, especially in kids whose brains are still developing until their early to mid 20s. Another danger is drinking and driving. Alcohol slows down reflexes so it's harder to avoid an accident and lowers inhibitions so people who drink often drive faster and have more accidents. And with drinking, some kids get more aggressive both with their friends and with dates - and that can lead to more problems. People who drink and drive also lose their drivers licenses when they get caught. Avoid alcohol - and don't get into the car with a driver who has been drinking.

Check out the HealthRock songs "If You Drink, Don't Drive" and "I Never Thought About Thinking" on the HealthRock High School website.