Alcohol is Ruining Young People's Lives

Under aged drinking has become a very common issue. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH), 33% of kids who are age 15 and 60% of people who are 18 have had at least one drink, and 7.7 million under aged young people said that they have had a drink.

“Wow. Really? I knew that a little of kids drank under aged, but I didn’t expect it to be that much,” said Kade Hackerott, freshman.

Drinking under age is more serious than people think. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 4,358 deaths of people under age 21 each year are caused by alcohol use.

There are many reasons why kids drink under the legal age. Peer pressure is one of the main reasons kids get caught in the mess. Another reason is depression. Children are at the age where they experience depression, and they find alternatives to get away from their problems.

“'Cause they want a buzz. They like to party,” said Cole Whipple, junior.

Under aged drinking also affects people’s school life and life in general.

“It can make them not care, drop their values. I think it is stupid to do that,” said Hackerott.

Adults who started drinking at a young age can experience dramatic physical, emotional, and lifestyle changes. It can cause kids to have lack of sleep and trouble paying attention in school while learning.

“I don’t know a lot about the effects it causes, but I do know it messes people up in their brain,” said Whipple.

Young adults who drink and get addicted can also be saved by getting help from their parents or other people who had the same problem. They can also go into alcohol rehab and get help there, too. Students can get help from counselors and their families.

“I think it’s a really good idea to get help even if you’re scared because knowing that you have a problem and not dealing with it can come bite you back in the future. Being an alcoholic in the future is far worse than being scared to tell someone you have an addiction problem,” said Tammy Vo, sophomore.