2010 data summary. Youth alcohol use

The Georgia Department Of Community Health
Data Summary

Youth Alcohol Use

Alcohol is more widely used among youth than tobacco or illegal drugs.1
Health Consequences
From 2001 to 2005: 157 Georgia youth (< age 21) died each year from alcohol-related illness or injury More young men (77%) than women (23%) died each year from alcohol-related illness or injury 46% of youth alcohol-attributable deaths were due to motor-vehicle crashes 34% of youth alcohol-attributable deaths were due to homicide or suicide2

Youth alcohol use is also associated with increased risk for:

Physical assault

Tobacco use

Sexual assault

Drug use

Academic problems

Unplanned and unprotected sexual activity1

Youth who consume alcohol are five times more likely to become dependent on or abuse alcohol than those who wait to try alcohol until they are 21 years of age3
Excessive alcohol use among youth is associated with brain damage, intellectual impairment, and memory problems1,4

Drinking Behaviors
In 2009, 21% of Georgia high school students reported having their first drink of alcohol (other than a few sips) before the age 13
In 2009, 32% of Georgia middle school students and 68% of high school students reported having one or more alcoholic drinks at least once in their lifetime
Approximately 331,386 (34%) Georgia high school students had at least one drink of alcohol in the last 30 days in 2009
In 2009, 181,634 (19%) Georgia high school students reported binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks at one time)
Among Georgia high school students who consumed alcohol in 2009, 41% usually drank liquor rather than malt beverages (17%), beer (17%), no usual type (12%) or other types of beverages including wine and wine coolers (14%)5

Binge drinking by grade level/age,

Binge dGreinokrginiag20b0y9grade level/age,

50

Georgia 2009

Usual beverage type consumed by high school students, Georgia 2009

50 41

Percent Percent

25

22

23

18

25

14 11

17

17

14

12

0

0

9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade Adults 18+*

Liquor

Beer

Malt

Other

No Usual

Beverages Beverages**

Type

*Binge drinking among adults6 is defined as five or more drinks per episode for men and four or more drinks per episode for women. **Other beverages include wine, wine coolers and other types of alcoholic beverages.

2 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Ga 30303 w www.dch.georgia.gov

January 2011

Youth Alcohol Use 2010 Georgia Data Summary

Drinking and Driving
In 2009, 66,953 (7%) Georgia high school students reported driving after consuming alcohol
Among 12th grade students in Georgia, 12% reported driving after consuming alcohol in 2009

Youth Access to Alcohol
In 2009, 36% of Georgia high school students who reported alcohol use usually got alcohol from
someone who gave it to them
Among Georgia high school students who consumed alcohol, 82% did so at their own home or another person's home in 20095

Alcohol source for high school students,

50

Georgia 2009

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36

Percent

25
0 Given to Them

24 9

22 9

Gave Someone Money to
Buy

Took from Store or Family

Bought from Store,
Restaurant, or at Public
Event

Got Some Other Way

Their Own Home 26%
Other Location*
18%

Another Person's
Home 56%

*Other locations include public places, public events, in vehicles and on school property.

Prevention of Youth Alcohol Use

Maintaining a minimum legal drinking age of 21:

-

Results in reduced levels of alcohol consumption among young adults

-

Is recommended by the Task Force on Community Preventive Services based on strong evidence

that it prevents motor-vehicle crashes among youth

Better enforcement of laws prohibiting alcohol sales to minors is recommended by the Task Force on

Community Preventive Services

Limiting alcohol outlet density, or limiting the number of places to buy alcohol from, is recommended by

the Task Force on Community Preventive Services7

Increasing alcohol excise taxes is recommended by the Committee on Developing Strategy to Reduce

and Prevent Underage Drinking

Reducing youth exposure to alcohol advertising is recommended by the Committee on Developing

Strategy to Reduce and Prevent Underage Drinking 8

Sources:
1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2007.
2. 2001-2005 Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI) Software, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www. cdc.gov/alcohol/ardi.htm).
3. Hingson RW, Heeren T, Winter MR. Age at drinking onset and alcohol dependence: age at onset, duration, and severity. Pediatrics 2006;160:739746.
4. Zeigler DW, Wang CC, Yoast RA, Dickinson BD, McCaffree MA, Robinowitz CB, Sterling ML. The neurocognitive effects of alcohol on adolescents and college students. Preventive Medicine 2005; 40: 23-32.
5. 2009 Georgia Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance Survey (http://health.state.ga.us/epi/cdiee/studenthealth.asp). 6. 2009 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (http://health.state.ga.us/epi/brfss/index.asp). 7. Guide to Community Preventive Services (www.thecommunityguide.org/alcohol/lawsprohibitingsales.html). 8. Bonnie RJ, O'Connell ME, eds. Reducing underage drinking: A collective responsibility. Washington, DC: The National
Academies Press; 2004.