Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
February 7, 2017
1
1. Cirrhosis: According to the National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney diseases
(2014), the liver is an important organ due to its ability to store and process nutrients from food;
create new proteins; and help remove waste products from the body. When a person abuses
alcohol, fat will accumulate and there will be inflammation in the liver and over time, this can
lead to cirrhosis; a disease that deteriorates the liver causing the organ to lose function. (National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2014). Cirrhosis is the 12th leading
cause of death in the United States, and accounts for about 32,000 deaths annually (Murphy, Xu,
& Kochanek, 2013).
2. Car Accidents/Drunk Driving: In society driving under the influences has become life
threatening. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety administration (2010), every 2
minutes, someone will be affected or injured by a drunk driving accident. This statistic illustrates
the impact that alcohol has on a societal level. Someone could have never had any alcohol can
die or be affected by a drunk driving accident.
3. Heart Disease: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United
States (Whitman, I.R., Agarwal, V., Nah, G., Dukes, J.W., Vittinghoff, E., Dewland, T.A., &
Marcus, G.M., 2017). The Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2017) discovered that
alcohol abuse doubles risk of heart disease, such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation. People
that abuse alcohol are also 45 times more likely to get a heart attack than those that do not abuse
alcohol. (Whitman et al., 2017)
4. Violent crimes: According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
(2015), binge drinking is associated with increased risk of committing violent crimes. This states
approximately 40% of inmates who are incarcerated for violent crimes were under the influence
of alcohol at the time of their crime. They also state about three million violent crimes occur
each year in which the offender has been drinking.
5. Intimate partner violence: Studies from National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
(2001) suggests a positive correlation between drinking and intimate partner violence. This study
also shows about 30-40% of men who assaulted their partners were drinking at the time of the
assault and over 80% of men who abused or killed a female partner were problem drinkers.
binge drinkers are three times more likely to engage in anal sex than women who abstained from
alcohol, two times more likely to have multiple sex partners, and five times more likely to have
gonorrhea (Erbelding, Hutton, McCaul, & Santora, 2008).
8. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD): Any pregnant woman that drinks alcohol is at risk
of having a child born with FASD (National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, 2014). In
addition, women who have given birth to children with FASD are at high risk of having
additional children with FASD. According to the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome (2014), approximately 40,000 infants are affected by FASD each year and the least
common disability, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), costs the United States $5.4 billion annually.
9. Alcohol Poisoning: Alcohol poisoning shuts down the bodys essential processes such as
breathing. Alcohol poisoning makes it difficult for the body to maintain temperature, also known
as hypothermia. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention (2015) reported that on average,
there are six alcohol poisoning related deaths a day and more than 2,200 in the United States
each year.
10. Alcohol Dependence: Alcohol dependence or alcoholism is a condition where a person has a
craving to drink and cannot control the amount he or she drinks. A study by Steven D. Ehrlich
(2015) suggests that over 70 million Americans have faced alcoholism in their families. Having a
family history of alcohol abuse creates greater risk of developing alcohol dependence.
1. Brain Development: Throughout elementary and high school, the brain is undergoing
development. Alcohol will hinder or prevent full brain development. Alcohol affects different
parts of the brain such as the cerebral cortex, frontal lobe, hippocampus and cerebellum. These
parts of the brain are important because it allows for synthesizing thoughts, making decisions,
3
making memories, maintaining body functions and coordination. (Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, n.d. & Trudeau, 2010).
2. Risky Sexual Behaviors: According to Kann, Kinchen, Shanklin, Flint, Hawkins, Harris, et al.,
in 2014, brain development continues into the twenties where important communication
connections are refined. Scientists now believe this developmental period may explain why some
teens who drink seek out new and potentially dangerous situations. These potentially dangerous
situations may include risky sexual behavior and impulsivity where the teen is experimenting
with alcohol, often not recognizing the following consequences. According to the Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) published by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, (2013), 1 in 5 (22.4%) sexually active high school students drank alcohol or used
drugs before their last sexual intercourse.
3. Drunk Driving: Teen drivers are 40% more likely to be in a fatal car crash than more
experienced drivers, and drinking alcohol dramatically increases that risk (National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, n.d.). Young drivers are 17 times more likely to die in a crash
when they have been drinking compared to when they have not been drinking (Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). The reason for this is because alcohol impairs thinking,
reasoning, and muscle coordination.
5. Sexual assault: Alcohol is the most common substance used to commit sexual assault because it
is a sedative. Alcohol also impairs thinking and reasoning, making it more difficult to not give
consent to sexual activity. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (n.d.),
more than one third of acquaintance rape victims are between the ages for 14 and 17.
Furthermore, about 9% of high school students are physically abused by a boyfriend or
girlfriend.
6. Mental Health: There was a study held in Europe called the Young-HUNT study. Within the
specified population, almost 30% of the youth reported more than 10 drinking episodes of
intoxication. The study explored the associations of mental health problems and alcohol use in
adolescence and suggests that adolescents with attention and conduct problems are at high risk
for alcohol problems. (BioMed, 2009).
7. Binge Drinking: Binge drinking is consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short amount of
time (TeensHealth, 2016). A study show that over 22% of high school seniors binge drink, with
4
an average of 26.1% of males and 18.1% of females binge drinking (National Center for Health
Statistics, 2010).
8. Alcohol poisoning: Teens consume 90% of their alcohol through binge drinking, making
adolescents vulnerable to alcohol poisoning (Teen Rehab Center, 2016). Alcohol poisoning
causes the body to shut down essential systems. For instance, alcohol poisoning can stop
breathing, affect temperature maintenance, and water retention. Almost 250 adolescents die from
alcohol poisoning and other alcohol-related incidents each year (Teen Rehab Center, 2016).
9. Unintended Pregnancies: Alcohol plays a major role on a teens cognitive thinking and thus
impairs the ability to make good decisions. One of the results of underage drinking is that teens
engage in unprotected sexual intercourse resulting in unintentional pregnancies. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015) between the years 2001 and 2006, unintended
pregnancies increased from 79% to 83% among women aged 18 and 19.
10. Violent Crimes: Alcohol and drugs affect and influence adolescents to commit crimes. About
three million violent crimes occur each year involving drinking offenders. Four out of five
children and teen arrestees in state juvenile justice systems are under the influence of alcohol or
drugs while committing their crimes. Almost two million of 2.4 million juvenile arrests had
substance abuse and addiction involvement.
b. There is a relationship between cultural beliefs and alcohol abuse. Specifically, Cubans have a
stricter attitude about drinking alcohol than Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans due to
different lifestyles and education. Cubans attitude towards alcohol accounts for having the
5
lowest average number of drinks per week and percent of drinkers who binge drink compared to
Puerto Ricans and Mexicans.
c. Social characteristics: According to the Sutter Health Palo Alto Medical Foundation (2013), the
social characteristics of high school seniors include: their parents, race and social class
differences, friends, community. Older teens are more self-assured and better able to resist peer
6
pressure. These high school seniors spend less time with their families and more time with their
friends or even alone.
d. Learning characteristics: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2010) and Jane
Tyne (n.d.), the learning characteristics of high school students include: media and kinesthetic
learning. Youth are now spending more than seven hours a day using media. Thus, the media can
greatly influence the youths thoughts and ideas. Alcohol ads are made to appeal to adolescents
by using images of sexy and successful individuals having fun. Youth is viewing about 1000 to
2000 alcohol ads every year. Fifty percent of students are kinesthetic learners meaning they like
to take things apart, put them together, and see how things work.
b. This measure could affect a curriculum on alcohol abuse among high school seniors by limiting
accessibility of this harmful drug.
c. Based on this measure, topics of a curriculum on alcohol abuse use among high school seniors
should include ways to delay the consumption of alcohol but still educating teens to be
responsible and exclude the promotion or glorification of alcohol use as demonstrated through
the media.
2. As reported by the Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis, Sober Truth on Preventing
Underage Drinking Act (STOP Underage Drinking Act) was approved in 2006.
a. This measure allows modified enforcement of drinking laws, reduce availability and access of
alcohol to teenagers, increase research on underage drinking, and provide additional resources
for local community efforts.
b. This measure could affect a curriculum on alcohol abuse among high school seniors by further
limiting access and availability of alcohol.
c. Based on this measure, topics of a curriculum on alcohol abuse among high school seniors
should include the consequences of attaining alcohol, underage drinking and alcohol abuse,
while excluding any influences that encourage the consumption of alcohol.
D. Summary
Alcohol abuse affects all ages, but the impacts and consequences of alcohol are the most
detrimental to a persons health when that person is an adolescent. During high school years,
seniors experience many challenges and peer pressures. Students interest remains aimed towards
technology and stress management as they deal with their everyday trials. Within these trials,
many teens are innocently introduced to alcohol while some may seek alcohol due to its
reputation. While many high school seniors are aware of alcohol and its effects, little seems to be
known about the negative impacts and consequences associated with alcohol abuse.
Alcohol abuse can lead to many health problems. These include heart disease, violent
crimes, sexual assault, drunk driving, sexually transmitted infections and alcohol poisoning.
Every population has a physical and developmental characteristic; mental and emotional
characteristic; social characteristic; and learning characteristic. Knowing the characteristics of a
population enables one to understand the population and how the population functions. Being
able recognize the physical, mental, and social characteristics and grasp how the population
learns best will allow one to develop a curriculum to better address the needs and interests of that
population.
Based on the findings of the sample population of a local high school in Long Beach,
California, alcohol is accessible to high school students. In addition, a majority
of the high school seniors do not believe underage drinking is a serious
problem. This expresses the importance of alcohol accessibility and need for
further education on alcohol. Laws have been passed to reduce accessibility
of alcohol to minors. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act and Sober Truth on
8
Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Underage Drinking Act) are two examples of laws
that have been implemented to reduce the rates underage drinking.
In conclusion, by knowing the characteristics of the high school senior population and
health problems that are associated with alcohol abuse, an improved curriculum can be
developed. High school seniors need to be aware of the consequences of alcohol abuse and its
effects on their lives. By increasing knowledge and awareness, high school seniors will have a
better understanding and new perspective towards alcohol.
1. Findings suggest the following five topics should be included in the curriculum:
a. Peer Pressure prevention
b. Technology
c. Stress Management
d. Family Communication
e. Strategies to reduce consumption of alcohol
2. Goal: High school seniors will demonstrate assertive communication skills by speaking with
their parents/guardian, teacher, and classmates regarding the effects of alcohol and how to resist
negative peer pressure.
References
Alcohol & Public Health. (n.d.). Underage drinking. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/ underage-
drinking.htm
Alcohol & Your Health. (n.d.). Underage drinking. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism. Retrieved from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/ special-
populations-co-occurring-disorders/underage-drinking
American College Health Association. (2011). National College Health Assessment. American
College Health Association. Retrieved from
http://www.acha-ncha.org/docs/ACHA-NCHA-II_ReferenceGroup_DataReport_Spring2
011.pdf
Caetano, R., Schafer, J., & Cunradi, C. (2001). Alcohol-related intimate partner violence among
white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States. National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism, 25(1). Retrieved from: https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/
arh25-1/58-65.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Alcohol poisoning deaths.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/
media/dpk/alcohol/alcohol-poisoning/dpk-vs-alcohol-poisoning.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Teen drinking and driving.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/
vitalsigns/teendrinkinganddriving/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Alcohol and public health. Centers for
9
htm.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Alcohol and the developing
brain. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from
https://www.toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov/families/facts/brain.aspx
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d). Real facts about underage
drinking. Too Smart to Start. Retrieved from
https://www.toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov/teens/facts/myths.aspx
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2007). Underage drinking in
america: scope of the problem. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44364/
Strasburger, V. C., Jordan, A.B., Donnerstein, E. (2010). Health effects of media on children and
adolescents. American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved from http://pediatrics.
aappublications.org/content/125/4/756
Sutter Health Palo Alto Medical Foundation. (2013). Parents & teachers: teen growth &
development, years 15 to 17. Retrieved from http://www.pamf.org/parenting-teens/health/
growth-development/growth.html#Physical%20Growth
TeensHealth. (2016, September). Binge drinking. TeensHealth. Retrieved from
http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/binge-drink.html#
Teen Rehab Center. (2016, October 11). Teen alcohol poisoning. Teen Rehab Center. Retrieved
from https://www.teenrehabcenter.org/resources/alcohol-poisoning/
Trudeau, M. (2010, January 25). Teen drinking may cause irreversible brain damage. National
Public Radio. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/ story.php?
storyId=122765890
Tyne, J. (n.d.). Kinaesthetic, auditory, & visual learning styles for children. WizLearning.
Retrieved from http://www.wizelearning.org/2014/05/kinaesthetic-auditory-visual-
learning-styles-for-children/
Whitman, I.R., Agarwal, V., Nah, G., Dukes, J.W., Vittinghoff, E., Dewland, T.A., & Marcus,
G.M. (2017). Alcohol abuse and cardiac disease. Journal of the American College of
Cardiology, 69(1), 13-24. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2016.10.048
Washington County 10th Grade Survey. (2012). Adolescent Health and Well-being in
Washington County. Washington County 10th Grade Survey. Retrieved from
https://www.co.washington.mn
.us/DocumentCenter/View/6679
Youth Risk Behavior Survey. (2013). Surveys and Reports. Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene. Retrieved from http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/ccdpc/Reports/Documents
/2013%20YRBS%20Reports/2013-YRBS-Report.pdf
12
Appendix
Likart
scale
Multiple 12 How do you feel about a. Neither approve nor Frederick City
choice someone your age Disapprove Alcohol
having one or two drinksb. Somewhat Prevention
of an alcoholic beverage Disapprove Initiative
nearly every day? c. Strongly Disapprove
d. Dont know or cant
say
Multiple 13 Do you think alcohol usea. Serious problem NHTSA
choice by underage youth is a...
b. Not at all a problem Underage
c. Minor problem Drinking
Questionnaire-
2001
Multiple 14 Do you think seeing a. Yes Washington
choice pictures of teens b. No County 10th
drinking encourages Grade Survey
other teens to want to 2012
drink?
Conseq 15 Within the last 12 a. Yes National
uences months, have you b. No College Health
experienced any of the c. Don't drink Assessment II
following when drinking (ACHA- NCHA) -
alcohol? (Mark one for 2011
each line):
a. Did something you
later regretted
b. Forgot where you
were or what you did
c. Got in trouble with the
police
d. Had sex with someone
without giving your
consent
e. Had sex with someone
without getting their
consent
15