Posted by: Addiction Counselor in Untagged on Jan 20, 2010
Underage drinking in a United States that resulted in traffic fatalities, violence, pregnancies, crime, burns and drownings cost local residents and businesses $68 billion for medical procedures, work loss, pain and suffering in 2007, according to a federally funded study. These numbers include substance abuse treatment and drug rehabilitation.
The study also reports approximately 13,334,000 youths in the United States participate in illegal underage drinking every year and taxpayers pay $2.4 billion for their substance abuse treatment or drug rehabilitation.
The Underage Drinking in Hawaii study was published in November 2009 by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation with funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. OJJDP helps youths in crisis as a program of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The study shows that in 2007:
• Underage youth consumed 14.5 percent of all alcohol sold in US
• $24.2 billion in alcohol sales to this group equated to $11.9 billion in profits for alcohol companies
• Youth needing treatment for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome cost taxpayers $1.2 billion
• Based on student self-reports, 75 percent of the country’s pupils in grades nine through 12 had at least one drink on one or more days
Meanwhile, companies associated with alcoholic beverages are marketing to our nation’s youth while promoting they do not. Such companies make millions and cost taxpayers just as much.
Mix the underage drinking problem with rising prescription drug abuse, and there are enough factors leading to a substantial social problem when the country can least afford it.
Addiction Watch counselors warn the key to resolving this problem is education of youth about the effects of all drugs and alcohol. Prescription drug addiction among our teenagers is beginning to street drug addiction. This coupled with the monumental statistics associated with underage drinking and alcohol addiction makes education and awareness our only hope.
Until those that profit from the sale of alcohol and drugs are held accountable for the death and destruction caused, we have to be responsible to ensure our children are aware of the consequences. The study shows that youth who participate in underage substance abuse are four times more likely to need substance abuse treatment or drug rehabilitation.
Education about the effects of taking drugs is vital, which is why Addiction Watch is compelled to warn the public of these staggering issues.