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Survey: Underage drinking up
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Posted on Mar 27 2008
More than a quarter of children in the CNMI from grades sixth to twelfth have had their first drink of alcohol before the age of 13, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Public School System.
The 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey results, released recently, showed that 27.4 percent of CNMI youth have had their first drink of alcohol other than a few sips before reaching 13 years old.
This is an increase over the findings in a similar survey done in 2005, when it was found out that 26.1 percent of students from grades sixth to twelfth have had their first alcoholic drink before the age of 13.
PSS conducts the survey every odd year.
“The numbers clearly show an increase in youth having a drink before the age of 13 and it really needs to be addressed,” said Ayuda Network director Maria Pangelinan.
Magdalena Untalan of the Community Guidance Center Substance Abuse Prevention program said that underage drinking is a serious issue as it leads to major public health issues and social consequences such as drinking and driving, suicidal tendencies, sexual assaults, and long-term alcohol substance abuse.
According to research, underage alcohol use is more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined.
Additionally, people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence at some time in their lives compared to those who have their first drink at age 20 or older.
“We know from the work that’s already been done to address underage drinking that there are many actions we can take individually or in partnership with others that have been shown to work,” Pangelinan said.
She said that the Ayuda Network and the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition are teaming up to create awareness and address the issue on the increasing numbers of underage drinking among youths in the CNMI.
