Why is Alcohol Abuse Rising in Teens?

Unfortunately, alcohol abuse is increasing today, including among teenagers. There are many reasons for this fact. The influences of adults and social media are just a couple of them. Teens today face tremendous pressure to be cool and mature in unhealthy ways. Many of them are subjected to a number of social ills, alcoholism being just one of them.

The instant information that is provided by social media gives today's teen many opportunities to see their favorite stars and the popular kids around them partying to excess. These glamorized events encourage them to look to alcohol to look good to their peers. Unfortunately, the media even shows the downside as appealing. This can be the rich and famous making repeated trips into rehabilitation centers or skirting the law by paying high level lawyers to get them out of DUI's and other alcohol related offenses.

Teens do not only have to look to popular images to see alcohol consumption on the rise. Many of them are exposed to alcoholism in their own families. When teens see the adults in their lives coping with problems through alcohol addiction, it gives them the impression that this behavior is a normal, acceptable way to handle problems.

When they see the news on the Internet or television, it is often filled with depressing stories about the economy, the environment and politics. Teens are bombarded with images about a world that appears to be losing hope. Instead of looking to a future with dreams of college and a good career, they see a world of despair.

All of these things make teens think that drinking to excess is a simple way to deal with life. Unfortunately, alcohol abuse does not solve their problems. In fact, this attitude only exacerbates the depression and abuse already accepted by society.