Vanessa+Sanchez

keyword: Underage drinking Did you know that brain impairment in teen drinkers can be medical viewed with an MRI? Dr. Susan Tapert of the University of California, San Diego invited local high school students (both non-drinkers and drinkers) to have an MRI done on their brains. She gave volunteers identical thinking tests and viewed their brains while taking the exams. Teens who admitted to heavy drinking in the past showed far less brain activity (visible by the absence of red) than non-drinkers. What does this mean? Underage drinking can hinder a child’s “wiring” as the brain continues to develop -- damaging the impulse control and good judgment areas of the brain, and harming learning and memory areas. This alcohol damage can cause young people to: develop social problems, have poor judgment, get into trouble, do poorly in school, and experience failure in achieving life-long goals, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism and shown in other social surveys. In both males and females, puberty is a period associated with marked hormonal changes, including increases in the sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone. These hormones, in turn, increase production of other hormones and growth factors [|Source], which are vital for normal organ development. Alcohol use prior to or during puberty may upset the critical hormonal balance necessary for development of organs, muscles, and bones. Studies in animals also show that consuming alcohol during puberty adversely affects the maturation of the reproductive system [|Source].

copied from: Arizona Underage Drinking Prevention Committee, "Effects on the brain." __Draw the line__. 2007 - 2008 . Governor's Office for Children, Youth and Families. 22 May 2008 <[|http://drawyourline.com/harms/effects-on-the-brain>.]

Summary/Reflection: The underage drinking is talking about how you shouldn't be drinking at a young age because of the consequences that may occur. the consequences can lead to damage of the brain and a risk of death. When it comes to drinking you should be at the age of 21 and over, if you drink under the age of 21 you can die or it can lead problems to the brain.

keyword:adress underaging drinking

Underage drinking is not just a youth problem. It is also very much an adult problem. Adults continue to allow those under the legal drinking age to drink—illegally—by selling alcohol to those under 21, providing or purchasing alcohol, looking the other way when teens openly talk about their drinking exploits, and refusing to hold other adults and youth accountable for breaking the law. We, as a community, have to send a strong and consistent message that underage alcohol use is illegal and will not be tolerated. We also have to hold youth and adults accountable when they break the law. //Why do some people believe it is wrong for adults to deal illicit drugs to teens, but OK for an adult to provide alcohol to those under 21?// It is just as illegal—and harmful. The fact is alcohol is the No. 1 youth drug problem in America and more young people die from alcohol-related causes than from all other illicit drugs //combined//. (__[|http://why21.org/under21/#|1]__)

Summary/Reflection:Until we treat underage alcohol for the public health problem it is, there will continue to be teen drinking problems. Underage drinking is everybody’s responsibility and there are many things that need to be done to address the problem.

The widespread availability and access to alcohol fuels the underage drinking problem. Teens drink because they can and because alcohol is readily available to them. Your community probably provides ample opportunities for minors to get alcohol. By eliminating this access, there will be a reduction in youth alcohol-related problems such poor school performance, poor athletic performance, risky sexual behavior, stealing, violence, problems at home, unintentional injuries, car crashes, arrests and even suicide. If teens can’t get alcohol, they can’t drink it. Some ways you can help keep alcohol away from teens is: copied from: MADD, "addressing underage drinking." __WHY 21?__. 2007. MADD. 23 May 2008 <[|http://why21.org/myths/>.]
 * //Keeping Alcohol Away from Teens//**
 * Report underage drinking parties.
 * Keep adults legally accountable for providing alcohol to teens.
 * Ensure social host city and county ordinances are in place and enforced to keep adults accountable if they provide alcohol to youth in social settings.
 * Help close the loopholes in many states’ underage drinking laws by participating in [|community coalitions] to prohibit the use of fake IDs as well as the possession, purchase, attempt to purchase and consumption of alcohol for those under 21.
 * Strengthen compliance check programs (checking for proper ID) for stores and restaurants that sell alcohol.
 * Develop and increase dram shop liability laws (laws governing bars and restaurants that serve alcohol to those under 21 or over-serving adults).
 * Develop and increase social host laws (laws governing those over 21 who serve or provide alcohol to minors).
 * Implement enforcement efforts targeting underage drinking parties.
 * Contact the local MADD affiliate to volunteer for underage drinking prevention programs

Summary/Reflection: The address for underage drinking is talking about the reasons why you shouldn't be drinking under the age of 21 and how to keep alchol away form teens. The reason why you should keep alchol away from teens id because something bad can happen to them like they can be at a party and then get too drunk to be knowing what they are doing, then something bad can happen to them while they are drunk. So it is very important to keep alchol away from teenagers.