Alcohol: The Dangerous FACTS for our TEENS & Parents
It is alarming how many Arizona Parents feel that it is okay to serve their underage teens alcohol as long as they are supervised (47% of Arizona parents). A recent study from California researchers found that teen drinkers suffer nerve damage in their brain. They compared the brains of teen drinkers to non-drinkers and found that young alcohol users suffered damage to nerve tissue that could cause attention deficit among boys and faulty visual information processing among girls. Adolescent brains are still developing until they are in their 20's, adding any chemical that is not prescribed can alter the outcome of their brain development. Additional health problems young drinkers can develop later in life include, heart disease, stroke, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Join Together
Alcohol is the easiest drug for kids to obtain, and usually the first substance used by the 8th graders. If teens use alcohol before the age of 15 they are 400% more likely to become an alcoholic. Here are the results from the AZ youth survey 2008:
24% of 8th graders
39% of 10th graders
47% of 12th graders
Reported drinking in the last 30 days.
Minors in possession of alcohol will be arrested, have a criminal record, pay a court fine, and in some cases their license can be suspended until age 18.
Parents who voluntarily supply alcohol to their teens can be arrested for "contributing to the delinquency of a child "which is a misdemeanor and punishable by up to 6 months in jail. In some cases it can also be classified as child abuse.
Even if you are not at home and kids have access to your alcohol you are liable and can face criminal charges. Locking up your alcohol can help prevent this from occurring.
Forty-seven percent of parents STILL choose to serve their underage kids. Is it worth going to jail just to appear "COOL" to your kids and their friends?
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