1
Adolescence Alcohol Abuse Disorder
Abstract
Substance abuse or addiction among adolescents s is a that calls for has multi-agency
attention. In the US, 7% of alcohol users constitute of adolescents. Every year, 3 million
people die through alcohol-related causes in the world. Etiologic factors of adolescent
alcoholism are categorized as social, psychological, environmental and biological. There are
however, various interventions that can be used to tame adolescence alcoholism and its
associated impacts.
Introduction
Substance abuse or addiction among adolescents s is a modern-day public health crisis
that has attracted multi-faceted attention in society. Generally, there are many substances
commonly abused by, among, one of which is alcohol. The World Health Organization
estimates that 1% of the global population abuse alcohol (Ritchie & Roser, 2024). In the US
alone, WHO estimates the burden of alcoholism among adults to stand at about 20% (or 28
million people (Addiction Center, 2024). Interestingly, of these, 13.2 million constitutes of
young youths aged between 12 and 20 years (NIAAA, 2024). Statistics shows that alcohol is
a major cause of deaths among Americans, claiming about 3 million lives every year globally
(WHO, 2018).
These deaths come through accidents (drunk driving), organ damage and digestive
disorders (e.g. wearing and reduced functionality of liver, kidneys etc.), self-harm,
interpersonal violence, cardiovascular diseases and infectious/chronic illnesses, such as HIV
and AIDS, diabetes, some cancers among others. To adolescents, alcohol abuse is associated
, 2
with a range of harms, which include academic problems including dropping out from school,
inappropriate self-disclosures, poor social health, behavioral issues (such as delinquency), job
losses, poor emotional regulation, change in personality, poor sexual hygiene and improved
susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases, among other effects. WHO estimates that
about 43% of the world's population aged 15 years and older report having ever consumed
alcohol (WHO, 2018). The Alcohol Rehab Guide (2024) reports that persons who start
drinking alcohol before the age of 15 and four times more likely to become alcohol addicts at
some point in their lives compared to those who start later. This data demonstrates the need
for need to tailor vigilance and attention to tame the problem of alcohol use among youths, in
the bid to protect longevity and integrity of the young population.
Literature review
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines alcohol use as the use of nonmedicinal
psychoactive alcoholic beverages, such as wine and beer, which may escalate to dependence-
producing properties (WHO, 2019). Lu et al. (2019) considers adolescent alcoholism a major
societal issue threatening health, longevity and robbing away their hopes in various
dynamics, in areas of academics, career opportunities, relationships and health (psychological
and physiological).
Alcohol is universally used across the word in marking important events, especially
those that derive cultural significance. Traditionally, alcohol, especially locally brewed was
reported to possess some nutritional values, such as those important for sexual stimulation for
married persons (Holt, 2006). It was also regularly mixed with herbs to produce important
medicinal concoctions to cure some illnesses, and especially to relieve pain. In conservative
communities, especially in Africa, alcohol was used to mark the climax of important events,
such as child birth celebrations, circumcision, dowry payment and marriage ceremonies.
More importantly, alcohol was used to pay homage to ancestors, in occasions called libations
(Britanica, n.d.). Important to note is that alcohol held its special value, and therefore was a
preserve for the adults not to be consumed by children below mature age to avoid incidences
of misconduct under influence.
The modern civil generation features universal use of alcohol with no age or gender
delimitations, courtesy of dynamic pathways to alcoholism. A variety of etiologic factors for
adolescence alcoholism have been cited in literature. One of the cited risk factors of
adolescent alcoholism is genetics. A study by Marshal (2014) found genetic predisposition as
Adolescence Alcohol Abuse Disorder
Abstract
Substance abuse or addiction among adolescents s is a that calls for has multi-agency
attention. In the US, 7% of alcohol users constitute of adolescents. Every year, 3 million
people die through alcohol-related causes in the world. Etiologic factors of adolescent
alcoholism are categorized as social, psychological, environmental and biological. There are
however, various interventions that can be used to tame adolescence alcoholism and its
associated impacts.
Introduction
Substance abuse or addiction among adolescents s is a modern-day public health crisis
that has attracted multi-faceted attention in society. Generally, there are many substances
commonly abused by, among, one of which is alcohol. The World Health Organization
estimates that 1% of the global population abuse alcohol (Ritchie & Roser, 2024). In the US
alone, WHO estimates the burden of alcoholism among adults to stand at about 20% (or 28
million people (Addiction Center, 2024). Interestingly, of these, 13.2 million constitutes of
young youths aged between 12 and 20 years (NIAAA, 2024). Statistics shows that alcohol is
a major cause of deaths among Americans, claiming about 3 million lives every year globally
(WHO, 2018).
These deaths come through accidents (drunk driving), organ damage and digestive
disorders (e.g. wearing and reduced functionality of liver, kidneys etc.), self-harm,
interpersonal violence, cardiovascular diseases and infectious/chronic illnesses, such as HIV
and AIDS, diabetes, some cancers among others. To adolescents, alcohol abuse is associated
, 2
with a range of harms, which include academic problems including dropping out from school,
inappropriate self-disclosures, poor social health, behavioral issues (such as delinquency), job
losses, poor emotional regulation, change in personality, poor sexual hygiene and improved
susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases, among other effects. WHO estimates that
about 43% of the world's population aged 15 years and older report having ever consumed
alcohol (WHO, 2018). The Alcohol Rehab Guide (2024) reports that persons who start
drinking alcohol before the age of 15 and four times more likely to become alcohol addicts at
some point in their lives compared to those who start later. This data demonstrates the need
for need to tailor vigilance and attention to tame the problem of alcohol use among youths, in
the bid to protect longevity and integrity of the young population.
Literature review
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines alcohol use as the use of nonmedicinal
psychoactive alcoholic beverages, such as wine and beer, which may escalate to dependence-
producing properties (WHO, 2019). Lu et al. (2019) considers adolescent alcoholism a major
societal issue threatening health, longevity and robbing away their hopes in various
dynamics, in areas of academics, career opportunities, relationships and health (psychological
and physiological).
Alcohol is universally used across the word in marking important events, especially
those that derive cultural significance. Traditionally, alcohol, especially locally brewed was
reported to possess some nutritional values, such as those important for sexual stimulation for
married persons (Holt, 2006). It was also regularly mixed with herbs to produce important
medicinal concoctions to cure some illnesses, and especially to relieve pain. In conservative
communities, especially in Africa, alcohol was used to mark the climax of important events,
such as child birth celebrations, circumcision, dowry payment and marriage ceremonies.
More importantly, alcohol was used to pay homage to ancestors, in occasions called libations
(Britanica, n.d.). Important to note is that alcohol held its special value, and therefore was a
preserve for the adults not to be consumed by children below mature age to avoid incidences
of misconduct under influence.
The modern civil generation features universal use of alcohol with no age or gender
delimitations, courtesy of dynamic pathways to alcoholism. A variety of etiologic factors for
adolescence alcoholism have been cited in literature. One of the cited risk factors of
adolescent alcoholism is genetics. A study by Marshal (2014) found genetic predisposition as
