...Teenagers drinking and driving is an unfortunate reality. There’s no reason pretending it doesn’t exist. The teenage years often lead to an unfortunate combination of things that lead to an increased drinking and driving rate. Sometimes the newfound freedom is too much to handle responsibly and other times it’s as simple as peer pressure. Since teens usually have a low tolerance for alcohol and since they are also inexperienced drivers, all of these factors coming together creates a very dangerous situation. Most teen accidents are alcohol related, and many teens lose their lives in these accidents. As stated in firsteagle.com/tdd.htm> 60 percent of all teen deaths in car accidents are alcohol-related. In other words, teenagers that drink and drive have a greater chance of getting in an accident than when they are sober. So teens are putting their lives on the line while drinking and driving People today are well aware of the health problems caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Health problems can include stomach ulcers, liver problems, heart problems, and malnutrition. These...
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...Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Introduction DUI is an acronym for Driving under the Influence. In spite of the minimum permissible drinking age being 21, many adolescents in the United States of America drink alcoholic drinks. Most of these adolescents abuse alcoholic drinks by consuming alcohol frequent times or binge drinking. Binge drinking is taking more than five drinks in a row (Wilson, p63). Only a very small section of these adolescents can meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) gauges for alcohol dependence and independence (1, 2). The advancement of consuming alcohol from its use to abusing and its addiction is linked with both psychological and psycho-social influences. This paper will seek to examine the adverse effects of Driving under the Influence and how it can be curbed to prevent any further consequences. The overall short-run and long-run effects that come from juvenile alcohol drinking and dependence are astounding in every aspect of their assortment and scale, affecting not only the adolescents but also the people around them and community as an entirety. Adolescence is a passage in one's life to maturity that is categorized by vigorous bodily fitness and little occurrence of disease. However, what is most astounding is that the overall sickness and death rates surge by almost 200 percent in the middle of one's early adolescent and early adulthood years. This intense increase is mostly attributed to the rise...
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...States but also around the world. There are a countless number of effects it has on your body physically, mentally, and emotionally. From all types health problems such as diseases and cancers, to the the bad decsions you make while under the influence such as drinking and driving and suicide, to the deppression and sadness it can bring. Everyone likes to go and drink to have a good time, but it has become such an abused drug that is ruining many peoples lives because they can't control it. None more than the people who drink underage. Alcohol use by people under the age of 21 is a major problem in the US. It is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth, more than tobacco and illicit drugs. Although drinking under the age of 21 is illegal, people ages 12 to 20 consume more than 11% of all alcohol in the United States each year. Underage drinking has become an epidemic, gradually getting worse every year. Alcohol is responible for the death of almost 5,000 teens each year and approximately 190,000 emergency room visits. Nearly 9 million youths, ages 12-20, report they have consumed alcohol in the past 30 days. The rate of current alcohol consumption increases with increasing age according to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 1% at age 12 to 15% at age 16 and 39% at age 20. Binge drinking is the most common pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States and nearly 30% of teens have reported binge drinking in the past 30 days. The Nation Institute...
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...Adm 467 10/2/2015 Effects of drunk driving on teens and adults In 2011 over 1.2 million people were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Driving while under the influence is most seen in 21 to 25 years old. I found this information to be interesting because are demographic has a high tendency to drive while being under the influence of alcohol. I’m more interested in the effects of drunk driving on teens and adults because it is something that affects anybody who drives an automobile now a days. There is something you should know about driving under the influence. One of out every three Americans on the road has been involved in an alcohol related car crash sometime in their life time. Those are really bad odds looking at the fact that most Americans are on the road for at one hour per day. I’m very interest to learn more about the effects of driving under the influence on teenagers and adults. Most people who drive under the influence don’t actually realize the harm they can actually cause until the minute after the accident has happened. Most drunk driving incidents can be avoided with just a simple phone call. What drunk drivers don’t seem to understand is they are endangering not just their own life but everyone on the roads with them. For example, “In 2013, a total of 1,149 children fourteen and younger were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of those 1,149 fatalities, 200 (17%) occurred in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. Out of those...
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...to try to avoid it from happening, and that is, keeping the legal drinking age at twenty-one years old. The minimum drinking age has been an argument as to lowering the drinking age to 18. Candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich, from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, argues, “Of course, they should be able to drink at age 18, and they should be able to vote at age 16.” Then there are groups that have been formed such as, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who are strongly against lowering the drinking age to 18 and fully support 21 to be the legal drinking age. Lowering the drinking age to 18 resulted in more car accidents, deaths, and harmful effects to the body at such a younger age. Having the legal drinking age at 21 is for everyone’s own safety and health, also less under age kids will and have the ability to drink. In the 1970’s the drinking age was 18 years old because it was thought if you could fight in the Vietnam War you should be able to drink. However, having the legal drinking age at 18 lead to an outrageous number of younger kids drunk driving, causing traffic crashes and deaths. This was the main problem they faced with having the drinking age lower. The government found a solution to stop the number of death rates, by passing the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984, which rose the age for purchasing and consuming alcohol to 21. ABC News article, ‘Group...
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...Alcohol abuse is a serious problem, driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs is an even bigger problem that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Abusing either one of these substances can lead to the death of you or the death of someone else or even cause a major change in their life like Jacqueline’s story, her whole life has been changed because of another person’s ignorance and carelessness. Therefore, you should know the facts about drug and alcohol abuse before you do something you may regret for the rest of your life. According TO NIDA FOR TEENS: THE SCIENCE BEHIND DRUG ABUSE, drugs are chemicals or substances that change the way our bodies work. Drugs find their way into your bloodstream, whether you ingest, inhale or inject them, they are then transported to parts of your brain. Weighing about three pounds, the brain is made of many parts that all work together as a team. Each part of your brain has a job to do. When drugs enter your brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change the way your brain performs its jobs. These changes in the brain are what lead to compulsive drug use, the hallmark of addiction. Alby, an eighteen year old teen who was residing in a maximum-security jail, ended up in jail because he began dealing drugs. HEADS UP: REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY, recorded that it all started one summer day on a street corner in Yonkers, New York, when Alby was thirteen. One of his friends told him “You need to get your mind right. Hit this blunt”...
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...Social Policy Decisions Paper BSHS 355 Social Policy Decisions Paper Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and pushes for stricter alcohol policies. MADD was founded in 1980 in California by Candice Lightner after her 13-year-old daughter, Cari, was killed by a drunk driver. This paper will discuss the following; why MADD was created; the problem that led to the creation of MADD; how the problem was identified as a social problem; policies created as a result of MADD’s influence; problems experienced while implementing the policies; the effects of these social policies on human services delivery. On May 3, 1980 Lightner’s daughter, Cari, was killed by a drunken hit-and –run driver at Sunset and New York Avenues in Fair Oaks, California (Wikipedia, n.d.). The 46-year-old driver, who had recently been arrested for another DUI hit-and-run, left her body at the scene. Candace later created MADD in her home to support others and to stop drunk driving on May 7, 1980. She discovered that the guy who killed her daughter would most likely not receive any punishments for his crime and justice for her daughter would not be served. She realized that this same tragedy happens to many families that have been hurt the same way she was. Candace stated ” I promised myself on the day of Cari's death that I would fight to make this needless...
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... It is very easy for teens to get ahold of alcohol whether it be from the cabinets in their own homes or from older friends and family members, who would buy it for them. Teenage drinking has become one of the largest social issues today. More than 25,000 lives have been saved because of the MLDA (minimum legal drinking age). When states had lowered drinking ages in the past, the underage drinking problem was worse than ever before in the US. To have a better understanding on the controversy around the legal drinking age, some background information may be helpful. Kids are now experimenting with alcohol at early ages than they have ever before. Teens who are drinking can be affected in many different ways. Alcohol has been linked to a wide range of illnesses such as cancer, high blood pressure and liver disease. Some studies and surveys have shown that between the ages of 12-21, young adults have consumed alcohol at least once. Every year there are about 5,000 deaths in young people as a result in underage drinking. However with the ratings and percentages of teens drinking there are some ways to educate and possibly prevent the negative outcomes. A survey taken in 2004 showed that students “who completed AlcoholEDU were 20% less likely to be heavy-episodic drinkers and 30% less likely to be problematic drinkers” (Teens at Risk 173). These numbers “prove that alcohol education can be a useful tool in altering students drinking habits” (Teens at Risk 173). Having a...
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...Problem, We Are As midnight struck on November 4, 1998, the eve of Brad's 21st birthday, he went with a group of friends to Rick's American Caf� to celebrate his birthday. He began to play a game of “drink your age.” ;When he had finished 21 shots and knowing that the record among his friends was 23, he drank 3 more for a total of 24 shots of liquor. He drank them in about 1-� hours. The Media's Effect on Underage Alcohol Abuse The Media’s Effects on Underage Drinking The use of alcohol is a major aspect of our society. It is used in religious ceremonies, during socialization, and its presence ...His friends took him home and put him to bed as he passed out. His BAC continued to climb to a lethal level of .44 g/100ml, as the depressant did its work. His breathing stopped and the coroner estimates that he died at approximately 4:30 AM. He died on his 21st birthday, November 5, 1998. Tragedies similar to this one happen too often. People say that the age of 21 is an age of responsibility, and one is now responsible The Media's Effect On Underage Alcohol Abuse The Media’s Effects on Underage Drinking The use of alcohol is a major aspect of our society. It is used in religious ceremonies, during socialization, and its presence is seen ...to drink. Well in this particular case, responsibility was not there. Having an age limit for alcohol use does nothing if individuals are not educated to use alcohol properly. Lowering the age limit to 18 will not cause any more problems that...
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...Decisions Paper On May 3, 1980, a 46-year-old drunk driver fatally killed 13-year-old Cari Lightner in a hit-and-run drunk driving accident. The fatal accident that leads to the death of Cari Lightner was a result of drunk driving that causes her mother, Candace (Candy) Lightner’s organization of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was established on September 5, 1980, four months after 13-year-old Cari’s tragic death. The platform was created by Mothers Against Drunk Driving as a way of bringing public awareness of the results of driving while intoxicated and under the influence of drugs. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) also provided support to families and victims of drunk driving. Through the organization, a small group of women who went around the nation providing information and facts about driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. What initially started out as a small group of women quickly caught the attention of the United States Congress. MADD is still active today and has hundreds of chapters across the United States. Social Policies of MADD The overall predicament that led to the establishment of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was due to the individuals who were driving while under the influence of alcohol. Individuals were driving while under the influence of alcohol since the end of prohibition. Evidence provided a link to drinking alcohol and impaired driving. It was a challenge to prove that the accidents...
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...perils of drunkenness and more on the tenuous concept that adults can drink properly but youths cannot or should not" (Males 190). This lead to much discussion over the drinking age and the debate will go on for years to come. Throughout this debate, it lead to the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which lowered the United States drinking age to eighteen. After this act was passed there was much controversy and soon after the drinking age would go back to twenty one. The states had to follow this statement "All States to raise their minimum drinking age to 21 within 2 years or lose a portion of their Federal-aid highway funds; and encourage States, through incentive grants programs, to pass mandatory sentencing laws to combat drunk driving." (Senate Record...
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...Drinking and driving are bad combination on the street. When those two ingredients are mix together it will create a very tragedy for many people are driving and walking on the roads. Drinking and driving is an irresponsible choice that people seem to make often. When people continue to consume alcohol repeatedly it will reduce their attention and reactions to unexpected hazards which can lead to an incurable accidents or unembellished inquiry. It does not only injuries and kills people but can also hurt somebody financially and mentally. When driving under the influence hurt someone financially it causes there insurance to increase and it also causes driver license points to decrease. In America I think drunk driving has become a problem to young adult than older adult. Because I would see my friend posts a video on Facebook and other social media sites of them getting drunk in the car while it was moving. The problem with drunk driving by young adults is the surprising rates of traffic accident that was on the news. Half of all drivers (51.7 %) injured in traffic accidents were under the influence of alcohol (Ristic). Drivers under the influence of alcohol have a 3.80 times greater risk of suffering deadly injuries in traffic accidents...
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...Holy Grail of Adulthood Introduction The United States, one of the most advanced nations around, is one of four countries that have kept their Minimum Drinking Age at 21. Due to the National Minimum Drinking Age (NMDA) being age 21, the United States has been removed from the category with the Advanced Western Nations and was lumped in with small countries like Pakistan, Qatar, Oman, etc. In order to find out why the United States is willing to be clumped with small, developing places like those above, many people have done research and conducted tests on various drinking related activities of both the past and the present. The research on the ongoing debate has found that while many people were for lowering the NMDA, there were just as many that were against lowering it. Back Ground Info During the Year 2009, various instances of vehicular deaths or accidents involving alcohol were documented. The statistics showed that the age group of 21- 24 held the highest percentage of fatal vehicular accidents with BAC levels being .08 or higher. This shows that regardless of the NMDA, newly fledged drinkers are the cause of most accidents. Courtney Carlson, an editor of The Californian says, “All European and many South and Central American countries have a legal drinking age of 18 or younger” (Carlson). Canada has a drinking age of 19; Germany has a drinking age of 16 for beer. These countries along with many others have a have NMDA of 18 or 19. Researchers were curious as...
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...We get our information about the world from many sources. Because not all information sources are reliable, many of us carry around a lot of misinformation in our heads. Although some incorrect beliefs are harmless, those related to driving can kill. Here are four driving misconceptions that make you a danger to yourself and others on the road: Distracted Driving Is a Teen Problem The first step in overcoming a driving safety problem, is knowing that one exists. Thinking that only teens have this problem implies that you don't because you aren't a teen. Even if you don't text and drive as so many teens do, there are many other forms of distracted driving that are also dangerous. Daydreaming, eating, grooming, enjoying the scenery, or any...
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...business? According to the CDC 11 percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States is consumed by children and young adults between the ages of 12-20. More than 90 percent of this alcohol is consumed in the form of binge drinking. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, about 5,000 kids under 21 die every year as a result of underage drinking – from crashes, homicides, and suicides. Teens that drink also are at risk for a long list of other injuries and potential life-long alcohol abuse. Reducing underage drinking can reduce drinking-related harm This problem is important to not only me as a parent but also to you as a driver on the street. Underage drinking is a rapidly growing problem that causes homicides, suicides and public intoxication. We need to put into play harsher punishments for underage drinking and aiding in underage drinking in order to prevent this problem from spreading. We can enforce harsher laws by increasing the punishment for underage drinking, increasing the punishment for aiding in underage drinking and making underage drinkers take mandatory class of the effects of underage drinking. Underage drinking causes many lives to be ruined. According to the CDC in 2008 over 190,000 visits were made to the emergency room as a cause of underage drinking related...
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