Adolescent Abuse of Alcohol
The purpose of this assignment is to explore a social issue or health problem that impacts nursing care of the middle or high school age pediatric population. This paper’s topic is the use and abuse of alcohol in adolescents of high school age. Experimentation with alcohol is beginning at a younger age, and the number of those abusing it is increasing. This is considered an issue, due to an adolescent’s brain still developing, and the choices they make at this age have lasting consequences on their future that they are unable to comprehend. Parents should become educated on this topic because it is an activity their children may be engaging in, and it is necessary to understand the problem, and be able to work through …show more content…
It is important for them to understand the problems associated with alcohol abuse, in order to better understand the treatment. It is illegal to drink before 21, but 11% of people ages 12 to 20 are responsible for drinking alcohol and 90% of this is in the form of binge drinking (Cdc.gov, 2016). While the number of those drinking alcohol may not seem overwhelming, the journal, Nursing Standard, states that the number of adolescents that are drinking are actually drinking larger quantities of alcohol in the form of binge drinking (Davies, 2012, p.43). There are many problems associated with drinking under age and drinking too much, and they are that these adolescents have a higher incidence of failing grades, they develop social problems, legal problems, unplanned or unwanted sexual activity happens, there is a higher risk for suicide and it can even lead to abuse of other drugs (Cdc.gov, 2016). There are many other problems associated with drinking alcohol underage, and it is a common trend to continue drinking, and even develop problems into adulthood if drinking is begun at a young age. The CDC found that youth who start consuming alcohol before age 15 are 6 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who drink in excess after 21 years of age (Cdc.gov, 2016). There are many articles on this topic ranging from the death of adolescents from alcohol abuse; to parents talking to their children before this issue even has a chance to present itself. There are certain gaps in information related to just how common of a problem this is, but it is not surprising due to the legal implications of being caught drinking underage. Parents need to know that this is an issue, adolescents are beginning to experiment at younger ages and it is ultimately their responsibility to know what can come from alcohol abuse as an
The purpose of this assignment is to explore a social issue or health problem that impacts nursing care of the middle or high school age pediatric population. This paper’s topic is the use and abuse of alcohol in adolescents of high school age. Experimentation with alcohol is beginning at a younger age, and the number of those abusing it is increasing. This is considered an issue, due to an adolescent’s brain still developing, and the choices they make at this age have lasting consequences on their future that they are unable to comprehend. Parents should become educated on this topic because it is an activity their children may be engaging in, and it is necessary to understand the problem, and be able to work through …show more content…
It is important for them to understand the problems associated with alcohol abuse, in order to better understand the treatment. It is illegal to drink before 21, but 11% of people ages 12 to 20 are responsible for drinking alcohol and 90% of this is in the form of binge drinking (Cdc.gov, 2016). While the number of those drinking alcohol may not seem overwhelming, the journal, Nursing Standard, states that the number of adolescents that are drinking are actually drinking larger quantities of alcohol in the form of binge drinking (Davies, 2012, p.43). There are many problems associated with drinking under age and drinking too much, and they are that these adolescents have a higher incidence of failing grades, they develop social problems, legal problems, unplanned or unwanted sexual activity happens, there is a higher risk for suicide and it can even lead to abuse of other drugs (Cdc.gov, 2016). There are many other problems associated with drinking alcohol underage, and it is a common trend to continue drinking, and even develop problems into adulthood if drinking is begun at a young age. The CDC found that youth who start consuming alcohol before age 15 are 6 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who drink in excess after 21 years of age (Cdc.gov, 2016). There are many articles on this topic ranging from the death of adolescents from alcohol abuse; to parents talking to their children before this issue even has a chance to present itself. There are certain gaps in information related to just how common of a problem this is, but it is not surprising due to the legal implications of being caught drinking underage. Parents need to know that this is an issue, adolescents are beginning to experiment at younger ages and it is ultimately their responsibility to know what can come from alcohol abuse as an