Alcoholism in Teens | Cedar Ridge Academy
Alcoholism in teens is a very serious problem in today's society. Cedar Ridge Academy is a very experienced and successful therapeutic boarding school, dealing with troubled teens between the 
ages of 13-17. The professionals at Cedar Ridge Academy focus highly on academics, offering a year-round college preparatory educational program where students go at their own pace. This allows students to advance past other teens that are their age, recovering lost credits, and repairing poor grades from when they were struggling at home. Cedar Ridge has helped thousands of troubled teens get back on their feet. For more information regarding Cedar Ridge Academy, please contact our Admissions Directors by calling 866-471-6629.
Aside from the fact that underage drinking is illegal, it poses a high risk to both the individual and society. We will discuss some of the consequences of teen alcohol abuse.
Drinking and Driving
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among youth ages 15 to 20. The rate of fatal crashes among alcohol-involved drivers between 16 and 20 years old is more than twice the rate for alcohol-involved drivers 21 and older.
Suicide
Alcohol use interacts with conditions such as depression and stress to contribute to suicide, the third leading cause of death among people between the ages of 14 and 25. In one study, 37 percent of eighth grade females who drank heavily reported attempting suicide, compared with 11 percent who did not drink.
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault, including rape, occurs most commonly among women in late adolescence and early adulthood, usually within the context of a date. In one survey, approximately 10 percent of female high school students reported having been raped. Research suggests that alcohol use by the offender, the victim or both, increase the likelihood of sexual assault by a male acquaintance.
High-Risk Sex
Research has associated adolescent alcohol use with high-risk sex, for instance, multiple partners or unprotected sex. The consequences of high-risk sex also are common in this age group, particularly unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. According to a recent study, the link between high-risk sex and drinking is affected by the quantity of alcohol consumed. The probability of sexual intercourse is increased by drinking amounts of alcohol sufficient to impair judgment, but decreased by drinking heavier amounts that result in feelings of nausea, passing out, or mental confusion.
Binge Drinking
Though most college drinkers would deny it, young people do die solely from drinking. In 1995, 318 people ages 15 to 24 died from alcohol poisoning alone. At the University of Virginia, a tradition that has seniors drinking a fifth of hard liquor at the final game of the football season has killed 18 students since 1990.