Alcohol is one of the most widely used substances among America’s teens and young adults, posing substantial health and safety risks. Teens who drink are more likely to be victims of violent crime, have serious school-related problems, and be involved in more alcohol-related traffic accidents.
According to the CDC, people from 12 to 20 years of age consume about one-tenth of all alcohol consumed in the United States. It is responsible for more than 3,500 deaths among people under age each year.1
Among York County Youth (grades 6,8, 10,12), 19.12% reported willingness to try alcohol in 2019 and 9.13% reported that their parents feel it would be wrong to drink alcohol regularly. Alcohol was the 2nd most commonly reported drug (12.98%) used by students in the past 30 days (vaping products being first).2
Sources:
1 Alcohol-Related Disease Impact Application. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Accessed September 16, 2020.
2 Pennsylvania Youth Survey. Pennsylvania Center on Crime and Delinquency. Accessed March 9, 2022.
Resources
Guide for Families
Alcohol: What Families Need to Know to Help Protect Young People – PDF download from Partnership to End Addiction
Guide for School Professionals
Alcohol: What School Professionals Need to Know to Help Protect Young People – PDF download from Partnership to End Addiction
What You Can Do to Prevent Your Child from Drinking
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/prevent-from-drinking_0.pdf – English PDF download from SAMHSA.gov
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/prevent-from-drinking-spa_0.pdf – Spanish PDF download from SAMHSA.gov
Family Agreement Form – Avoiding Alcohol
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/family-form-avoiding-alcohol_0.pdf – English PDF download from SAMHSA.gov
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/family-form-avoiding-alcohol-spa_0.pdf – Spanish PDF download from SAMHSA.gov
PAStart Substance Use and Behavioral Toolkit – Alcohol Toolkit
https://pastart.org/families-communities/family-toolkits/cas-toolkit-alcohol/