Troubled Teens Resources

Oppositional Defiant Disorder, ADHA, and Anti-social Personality Disorder have all been associated with teenage alcohol consumption. Add to that long-term memory impairment, depression, anxiety and an increased chance of suicide,it is a wonder that today’s troubled teenagers ever make it to adulthood. And as it happens, 5000 a year do not.

“…nearly one million high school students across the United States are “binge drinkers,” meaning that on each occasion, the teen(s) labeled as such consume more than four alcoholic beverages. Furthermore, three-quarters of high school seniors have consumed alcohol, as well as two-thirds of tenth graders, and two-fifths of eighth graders. Perhaps most tragic of all, 5,000 young people die every year as a result of alcohol consumption, whether from automobile crashes, miscellaneous accidents, or homicide.”

Given those statistics it is no wonder that literally thousand of teen crisis intervention programs and initiatives have blossomed across the country.

“Perhaps just as important to controlling teenage drinking as the court system are non-profit organizations that promote a message of abstainment from intoxication. Such organizations include well-known names like M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), whose slogan is “To resist drugs and violence.” Concerning both alcohol and violence, teenage incidents of both types are often related; it has been suggested that teenagers, and people in general, are more likely to commit crimes… while under the influence of alcohol.”

Fortunately, data is emerging suggesting such efforts are starting to stem the tide.

“Trends in teen drinking continue to decline.” “As few as fifty percent of high school seniors have been drunk within the past year,” says the [American Psychiatric] Association according to one released report.

(Source)