NCJ Number
152557
Date Published
1993
Length
79 pages
Annotation
Underage alcohol use represents a serious challenge to the educational system in the United States; according to a 1991 survey, more than half of all high school seniors use alcohol.
Abstract
The 1991 survey indicates that binge drinking occurs as early as the 8th grade and that junior and senior high school students drink an estimated 35 percent of all wine coolers sold in the United States and 1.1 billion cans of beer each year. Health effects of juvenile alcohol abuse are clear: 4.6 million teenagers have a drinking problem; alcohol-related accidents constitute a leading cause of death among young people between 15 and 24 years of age; and about half of all youthful deaths in drownings, fires, suicides, and homicides are alcohol-related. In addition, students who engage in heavy drinking are at risk for lower academic achievement. Prepared for the Surgeon General by the U.S. Department of Education, four reports are provided that contain information for use by educators and others who are responsible for developing and implementing school-based alcohol and drug prevention programs. The reports outline the magnitude of the problem, discuss laws governing alcohol use by students, and provide insights into youth attitudes toward alcohol. A report appendix contains a compendium of State laws concerned with alcoholic beverage control and underage drinking.