• Alcohol affects every organ in the body
• Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant
• Alcohol slows a person’s reaction time and impairs judgment and coordination
• Excessive drinking may result in memory loss and shrinkage of the brain
• Older siblings’ alcohol use can influence the alcohol use of younger siblings in the family, particularly same sex siblings
• Youth who use alcohol before age 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol dependent than adults who begin drinking at age 21
• Drinking under the age of 21 is illegal and consequences for drinking while underage could lead to criminal charges
• Consequences of youth drinking include risky sexual behavior, poor school performance and increased risk of suicide and homicide
• Excessive alcohol use is the 3rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the U.S. each year.
• In 2003 there were over 2 million hospitalizations related to alcohol use
Quick Statistics from:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Alcohol and Public Health
4770 Buford Hwy, NE
Mailstop K-67
Atlanta, GA 30341-3717
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892 |
