A DUI UNDER 25
Problem in America is Underage drinking and driving?
Summary/Abstract
Introduction
Methods
I used very strong strategies when it came to the research for this paper. I made sure every website I used had a reputable authors. This helped me feel confident about the information I received. Also going to the library learning to pay attention to the reasoning people were writing articles was extremely beneficial to me. I wanted solely statistics and no opinions. This helped me to use the best information and pick the prefect graphs for my paper. The sites below were the cites I used to strengthen my paper.
- MADD - Underage Drinking Statistics." MADD - Underage Drinking Statistics. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
- Drunken Driving." CQ Researcher by CQ Press. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
- Teen Drinking and Driving." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 02 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
- "Underage Drinking Statistics | United States." Edgarsnyder.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
- "Underage Drinking Information & Resources." Edgarsnyder.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
Why is underage drinking so common?
Findings
I find it interesting that such issue that raises so many eyebrows and concern many is still a relevant issue today. As I researched an article by (Elite Driving School 017 November 2014) they mentioned that half of all 10th graders had drank alcohol.
- 17% of fatal alcohol crashes are related to the age group 21 and under
- 37% of these crash from DUI's resulted in speeding
- 1 in 3 drivers who were killed in Maryland was due to a driver being impaired under 24
Also underage individuals seem to be more comfortable riding with someone who has been drinking.
Fig 1
Fig 2 "Teen Drinking and Driving." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 02 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
Fig 3 "Six Things To Do When You Learn Your Teen Is Drinking | Blog." Six Things To Do When You Learn Your Teen Is Drinking | Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
Source:"Impact on Society." Stairway to Recovery: Economic. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
Drinking is starting as young as 8th grade. With the idea that children are drinking younger and younger, it is a higher chance of them drinking as they get older.
Stairway to Recovery
- 1 in 4 high school students has a drinking problem.
- 1/3 of all school children in the United States have used an illicit drug.
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/addiction/berman/society/econ.html - If therapy is recommended individual and family therapy are essential to the recovery of an alcohol-dependent or drug-addicted youth.
- 33% of teen experience problems at home, school, work or in the community stemming from substance abuse.
- More than 68% of 12th graders reported that they had drank alcohol at least once in the past year. While only 41% of parents thought their teen was using alcohol.
- 21% of 6th graders reported that they had drank alcohol at least once in the past year. Yet only 5% of their parents said their 6th grader had tried using alcohol.
- Among alcoholics worldwide, 15% report becoming dependent before age 18 and 47% became hooked before age 21. In all 2/3 became dependent before age 25.
- The younger you are when you start drinking, the greater your chance of becoming addicted to alcohol at some point in your life. More than 4 in 10 people who begin drinking before age 15 eventually become alcoholics
Discussion
Based on all of the research there is clearly an effect on todays society from children drinking and driving. More people have died due to drinking and driving than homicide and suicide combined. This is causing family to hurt because of such a relevant issue. There has been a decrease in this issue from 1980 to 2016(CQR researcher). The laws that they are making has been beneficial for such violent and destructive crime. The question is why is this still an issue at all. This is a problem that needs to be completely extinct. From the chart it shows that by the 12th grade most children are already exposed to alcohol. Knowing this information that's should be a huge focus point when it comes down to stopping this issue.
There has been an obvious issue with the fact that underage drinking and driving. It continues to grow the younger children are exposed to alcohol. As the studies show whatever you are use to as an adolescence you will be comfortable as an adult. If you're already comfortable with the idea of breaking the law by drinking, what is there to stop you from drinking and driving? Alcohol is an overall issue; not just among youths, but among society as a whole. However death from underage children while drinking and driving are causing more wrecks than ever before. If bringing drinking and driving down to a much lower number it is a fact that lives could be saved.
My studies also revealed that binge drinking is the mass majority of the reason underage children drink and drive. Parties and gatherings have influenced this a lot . The crowd that kids are choosing to be around has impacted their decision to drink and drive more than one would know. Studies show that binge drinking is the reason why 40% of underage children drink and drive.(outpatient source) Social events are becoming deadly to the community. The more college parties can result in a higher number of drinking and driving. These parties should be monitored much better to help save lives
Conclusion
After enough research there are multiple ways to bring this issue all the way down. One of the easiest things to do is to bring it to a minimum is monitor what teens do. As parents if everyone comes together and makes sure that their children are doing what they are suppose to be doing. If everyone can work together to keep alcohol away from children DUI'S will go down. Laws are extremely strict and because of that the statistics have already got lower.
Drinking and driving is something that effects the community more than we know. It has devastated many by taking chances from young people that they will never get back. Drinking can be genetic. If mom and dad drinks there's a higher chance the child will drink. With that being said it is important to protect children from being exposed to alcohol at such young age. By watching parents or even if older siblings do it there is an increase in whether or not they will be drinkers. Once you drink there's is already a higher chance of drinking and driving than if you didn't drink at all. It's important to shield children from alcohol all together.
It is still an issue today but certain things are working to bring underage drinking and driving down which will save lives. If over 50% of children are getting access to alcohol in 8th grade there is still work to do. As time grows society is taking advantage of research and coming up with great ideas to nip this all the way down. If college parties are banned unless there's an adult on site that could a lot be beneficial to this issue.
Overall parents shouldn't drink in front of their kids. Adults have to buckle down as parents on the freedom that minors are getting. Making sure that you raise a responsible adult is something that will benefit the society all together. Taking a taxi is a very simple process. If that's what it takes to keep underage drinking on a downward spiral that option should be utilized. Too much access and freedom underage usually wont end well. Parents are aware of this issue so it's important to do something about it. It needs to be brought to a stop today.
references
- Disease Control and Prevention, 02 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2016
- Drunken Driving." CQ Researcher by CQ Press. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
- "Impact on Society." Stairway to Recovery: Economic. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
- MADD - Underage Drinking Statistics." MADD - Underage Drinking Statistics. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016
- PLADDorg. "Jacqui's Story." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Jan. 2010. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
- "Underage Drinking Information & Resources." Edgarsnyder.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.