Underage Drinking: Parents Partly to Blame - Essay Sample

Introduction

Parents and guardians are partly to blame for the rise of underage drinking in different regions. For instance, in a survey that was conducted by Churchill Home Insurance in the UK established that fifty percent of the parents who had children under the age of 14 allowed them to drink alcohol at home (Kozicka 1). In the same survey, it was established that ten percent of the surveyed parents allowed their children who were as young as five years to consume alcohol. The study also revealed that for twenty-five percent of the parents, they did not feel that it was wrong for their children to participate in underage drinking (Kozicka 1). Twenty percent of the surveyed parents stated that they would allow other children who were not family members to take alcohol if they were in their home. Furthermore, thirty-three percent of the parents that participated in this survey stated that they used alcohol as a reward for good behavior at home and school. They believed that they were able to monitor the alcohol consumption of their children if it happened at home (Kozicka 1).

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Clinical psychologist David Teplin cautions parents who allow their children to engage in alcohol in a 'controlled' environment. He notes that parents should not assume that by 'starting them early' will help their children develop a positive or healthy relationship with alcohol as they grow older (Kozicka 1). They may easily become addicted to this substance as they have not yet fully developed their mental capacity to make morally right judgments, and decisions. Adolescents are more likely than is the case of adults to take risks that are detrimental to their health. They have a high likelihood of engaging in beer games that may lead to excessive drinking and alcohol poisoning.

The national drinking age in the United States was set to 21 in 1984, and for a good reason(Foster). Adolescence is a critical period in the growth of people. During this stage of development, a majority of individuals set behavior patterns that they will follow for the rest of their lives. It is also considered to be a critical period where people are most vulnerable to substance abuse, and also the development of complex brain diseases that are associated with addiction(Foster). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), approximately 90% of the people who are addicted to alcohol and drugs began using them before the age of 21(National Institute on Drug Abuse). The reason for this is that the parts of the brain that are responsible for judgment, decision-making, emotion, and impulse control are not yet fully developed until when people reach the mid-twenties.

As has been pointed out before, the teenage years are considered to be a critical window of vulnerability to drug addiction because during this period, the brain is still developing, and it is malleable. Some brain areas have matured more than others. For instance, the brain parts that are involved in processing feelings of reward and pain, which are considered to be crucial drivers of drug abuse mature during the childhood stage (National Institute on Drug Abuse). However, during the teen years, the prefrontal cortex, and connections to other brain regions is not yet fully developed. It is important to point out that the prefrontal cortex part of the brain is responsible for making sound decisions, assessing situations, and controlling an individual's emotions. Therefore, for people who are introduced to alcohol at such a young age are highly likely to become addicted because the brain part that is responsible for making sound decisions, and assessing situations have not yet fully developed. It is the main reason why adolescents are a major target for prevention messages during the promotion of alcohol and tobacco.

For a majority of teenagers who experiment on alcohol, it does not necessarily lead to drug addiction. However, it is important to point out that, just by trying, or experimenting with drugs for adolescents is considered to be a problem. The reason for this is that drug use can lead to the formation of risky behavior patterns. This includes engaging in unsafe sexual practices, driving while one is intoxicated, experimenting on 'hardcore' drugs such as cocaine, and heroin. In situations whereby a teenager has developed a pattern of repeated use, it can harm their social and health lives (National Institute on Drug Abuse).

Underage drinking is associated with other health and social problems. These include impaired driving, accidents, poor school performance, physical assaults, injuries, prolonged hospital stays, and suicides. It is estimated that every year, there are more than 1,800 college students who die from alcohol-related injuries. In addition to that, there are approximately 100,000 students who are victims of alcohol-related sexual assaults, and more than 700,000 students are assaulted annually by other students who had been consuming alcohol (National Institute on Drug Abuse). The long term consequence of underage drinking is that for a majority of the adolescents who start drinking, they are highly likely to develop alcohol dependence than for people who began consumption of alcohol at older ages. In addition to that, frequent alcohol consumption at an early age is associated with depression, low self-esteem, antisocial behavior, dependency on other drugs, and anxiety issues in later stages of life. Furthermore, it can contribute, or lead to health problems such as pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, anemia, and hypertension. Some people who start drinking alcohol at early age experience problems with their bone density development and this is especially rampant in women. Girls who begin to consume alcohol frequently when they are in the adolescence stage fail to develop maximal bone density and are highly likely to develop osteoporosis at later stages of their lives.

The use of drugs and alcohol will affect the brain by raising the level of dopamine chemicals in the brain. This chemical is used to control the elements of reward and pleasure for an individual. Normally, the brain is 'wired' in such a way to encourage life-sustaining and healthy practices, which is achieved through the controlled release of dopamine (National Institute on Drug Abuse). For adolescents' activities such as playing sports, listening to their favorite music, passing their examinations, and hanging out with friends leads to the release of this chemical in moderate amounts. The aspects of reward and pleasure that they experience through the release of moderate amounts of dopamine tends to reinforce positive behaviors such as learning and strengthening of social bonds. However, is they are involved in the consumption of alcohol, it will 'hijack,' or alter this process (National Institute on Drug Abuse). The reason for this is that they will experience a 'high,' which is quite similar to the release of dopamine for reward purposes. Therefore, if this process is repeated, the brain will reinforce the neural links between pleasure and alcohol consumption, which will eventually become strong. If it is not controlled then taking alcohol will be considered to have more importance in an adolescent's life than is the case to other activities that produce rewards and pleasure such as understanding a mathematical, or science concept (National Institute on Drug Abuse).

There are legal consequences of selling alcohol to underage persons. For instance, if a bartender sells alcohol to a minor then they are liable to criminal charges (City of Lawrence). It applies even if the minor who has consumed alcohol remains sober, and can make it home without causing himself, herself, or other people bodily harm. It is important to point out that even if the minor looked like he or she has reached the required drinking age, a bartender needs proof by checking an identification card to validate it. If found guilty then a perpetrator depending on the laws of the state can be fined, or serve a jail sentence. In addition to that, if the minor, or the underage drinker harms himself, or herself after leaving the drinking establishment, he or she can sue the person who served them the alcohol for the injuries, and damage of property that they may have been involved in (City of Lawrence). The person who served the alcohol will then be liable to pay for the damages, and also may serve a prison sentence, or a fine for his, or her involvement in the minor's alcohol consumption.

The arguments that have been presented in the paper are an indicator that alcohol should not be served to adolescents. Alcohol abuse at the early stages of life harms the physical development of the people involved. For instance, it affects the normal development of the brain, especially in the prefrontal cortex area. For women who began consuming alcohol in the early stages of their lives, they are highly likely to develop Osteoporosis. It can also harm the mental health of the individuals leading to conditions such as depression and anxiety. Furthermore, teenagers who consume alcohol regularly are highly likely to engage in risky behavior such as unprotected sexual activities with multiple partners, drug abuse, school truancy, and violence. There is no proven benefit of underage drinking, and therefore this practice should be prohibited in society.

Works Cited

City of Lawrence. "Legal Consequences of Underage Involvement with Alcohol." City of Lawrence, Kansas, 22 July 2016, lawrenceks.org/attorney/alcohol/.

Foster, Susan E. "Underage Drinking is a Bad Idea No Matter When You Serve It." Center for Addiction, 13 Mar. 2013, Accessed 5 Oct. 2019.

Kozicka, Patricia. "Should parents let underage teens drink at home? 50% do, survey says." Global News, 24 Aug. 2016.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide." National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) |, 2014, www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-adolescent-substance-use-disorder-treatment-research-based-guide/introduction.