Lower Drinking Age Associated with Poor Birth Outcomes

A recent study from the University of Georgia concludes that lowering the legal drinking age could affect the rate of unplanned pregnancies and pre-term births among young women.

The findings suggest that lowering the drinking age makes alcohol more accessible to young people, which could lead to an increase in unplanned pregnancies. Unexpected pregnancies, in turn, result in negative birth outcomes for infants, since teens who get pregnant unexpectedly are less likely to get good prenatal care and may not be as interested in the child as someone who had planned to get pregnant, according to Angela Fertig, one of the authors of the study and an assistant professor at the UGA College of Public Health.

The study appeared in the May 2009 issue of the Journal of Health Economics. You can view the abstract here.

Multiple Forms of Child Abuse May Lead to Greater Adolescent Binge Drinking

Child maltreatment has long been linked to substance abuse issues later in life.  A new study from Boston University has found that children who experience multiple types of abuse are at a particularly high risk for underage binge drinking. Adolescents aged 12-21 with a history of sexual abuse had twice as greater odds of binge drinking than those with no maltreatment; teens who experienced both neglect and physical abuse had 1.3 times higher odds, and those who experienced all three types of maltreatment were 1.8 times more likely to report binge drinking. The authors conclude, “Researchers examining the relationship between childhood maltreatments and risky alcohol use in adolescence should simultaneously consider all types of childhood maltreatment to address the totality of the child’s experience.”

Read the full article here.

Your Kids Are Watching

Research shows that children start feeling pressure from peers to experiment with drinking alcohol around ages 9-13, but as a parent, with your guidance, your child can learn to make the right decision. Some suggestions as to how you can help protect your child:

1. Be a good role model. Your actions as a parent speak just as loudly as talking to your child about alcohol and drug use. Parents who set a good example through their social habits have kids who do better in the areas of school, employment, relationships, coping and other life skills.
2. Ask other family members or friends to serve as positive role models for your child.
3. If you drink, never drink to the point of being intoxicated. Parents’ abuse of alcohol or other drugs significantly increases a child’s chances of using, using early and developing a substance abuse problem.
4. Have family dinners and parties without serving alcohol to show your child that it’s not necessary to consume alcohol in order to have fun.
5. Never drink and drive.
6. Never send the message that alcohol or other drugs are to be used to reduce stress or solve problems.
7. If you have a problem with alcohol or other drug use, get help.
8. Obey all laws. Know the laws about underage drinking in your state. It’s illegal for minors (those under age 21) to possess alcohol and it’s also illegal for an adult to supply alcohol to a minor.
9. Talk to your child about the dangers of underage drinking. Explain that drinking alcohol may affect learning due to young bodies and brains still developing.
10. Set clear rules for your child about alcohol and other drugs. Be firm about the consequences if rules are broken.