Statistics of Teenagers Who Die From Alcohol Poisoning

History

• The legal drinking age was lowered to the age of 21 in all states in 1984. The federal government warned that if states did not follow the new law, they would not receive funding for the construction of federal highways, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This law was enacted, in part, to lower the number of teenage drinkers, as well as teen drunk driving.

Symptoms

• An overdose of alcohol, better known as alcohol poisoning, prevents the body from performing its normal functions, such as regulating its heart beat and breathing. Alcohol poisoning can be fatal if it is not treated in time. Some symptoms include irregular or slow breathing, coma, seizures, hypothermia and vomiting in your sleep. If you suspect that someone has alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately.

Underage Drinking

• The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found in 2005 that each day in the United States, approximately 13,000 teens and children have their first alcoholic beverages. Alcohol poisoning is common among college students, as they are more likely to be involved in binge-drinking. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), four out of five of college students consume alcohol, and 60 percent of them are under the age of 20.

Deaths

• The NIAAA states that approximately 599,000 college students in the United States get accidental alcohol-related injuries, such as alcohol poisoning. Half of them are under the legal drinking age of 21, and some may even be under the age of 18. The National Center for Health Statistics found in in 2005 that about 157 people ages 18-23 died from alcohol poisoning between the years of 1999 and 2004. The state of Texas had the most deaths, with 18 people succumbing to alcohol poisoning in this age group. However, the NIAAA found in a study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics that between 1996 and 1998 2 percent of approximately 1,400 annual deaths in which alcohol poisoning was at least a contributing factor involved individuals under the age of 21.

Considerations

• According to the NIAAA, the National Center for Health Statistics discovered that about 80 percent of those who die from alcohol poisoning are male. The DOT states that teenagers are the most vulnerable to death as a result of alcohol poisoning, as many do not understand its effects on the body and drink too much in a short period of time. According to the DOT, about half of the teenagers who die from alcohol poisoning occur after drinking alcohol for the first time.

Prevention/Solution

• There are steps you can take to prevent teenage alcohol-poisoning deaths. First, do not attempt to treat a victim of alcohol poisoning on your own. There are myths that some people try, such as putting an alcohol poisoning victim to sleep, having them drink coffee or throwing cold water on them. According to the DOT, none of these methods work, so you need to call 911. While you are waiting for the ambulance, stay with the victim and make sure that he is not on his back. Putting him on his side ensures that he does not choke on his own vomit.