Tragic health, social, and economic problems result from the use of alcohol by youth in Oklahoma. Underage drinking is a causal factor in a host of serious problems, including homicide, suicide, traumatic injury, drowning, burns, violent and property crime, high risk sex, fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol poisoning, and need for treatment for alcohol abuse and dependence. This is alarming in our rural areas we cover in Oklahoma due to lack of resources, activities for youth, and little access to treatment services. Alcohol is still the number one drug of choice amongst youth and although other drugs have become a concern, the same strategies applied to decrease alcohol misuse and abuse can also decrease the other community problems with drug use as well.
Alcoholic energy drinks
Alcohol energy drinks is a major concern due to the fact that they appeal to youth as well as they are very hard to differentiate from non-alcohol energy drinks. The mixture of caffeine and alcohol is dangerous to our youth. The caffeine is a stimulant while alcohol is a depressant therefore causing an individual to not be aware of their drunkenness which can lead to alcohol poisoning among other medical issues.
Resources:
Energy Drink Report
Youth Access
A friend's home, a party, or even their own home is what most underage youth will tell you they are able to drink alcohol. Most are getting it from someone over the age of 21. Underage drinking is 100% preventable and we must work to keep it out our youth's hands. According to the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment (OPNA) conducted in 2008, 10% of 12 graders that drank alcohol in the past year, bought alcohol themselves with their own ID or with a fake ID. 86% of 12 graders, whom drank in the last year, stated that the last time they drank was at a friend's home. Alcohol is the drug most commonly used by youth, more than tobacco and far more than marijuana or any other illicit drug according to the OPNA conducted in 2008.
