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Social networks: The peers of adolescents have been shown to exert profound influence over their drinking practices. Moreover, the drinking practices found within a given teen’s peer group have been found to have a significant influence over their illicit drug activity. They have also been shown to influence several other aspects of risk taking behavior. The surgeon general has directly linked these factors to the elevation of teen mortality rates. 85% of older teens admit that they drink for the purpose of getting drunk.(1)

Though refusal skills and educational warnings are a key element of preventing substance abuse, the influence of ones peers has been shown to be of overriding influence. Not only are peers among the most frequent sources of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana, they are also the most powerful source of social pressure. Kids who are friends with drinkers are exposed to alcohol much earlier and with much more frequency than those who are not. As a consequence, they are much more likely to engage in underage drinking themselves. Over 90% of teens that try alcohol with their friends, subsequently develop underage drinking patters which include drinking at least once every 30 days. Teens who report that their close friends drink while underage, also admit to drinking more often, and to binge drinking much more frequently, than do those whose friends do not drink alcohol.

Kids whose close friends drink alcohol also become more likely to use marijuana and tobacco products. They are four times more likely to know someone that regularly abuses prescription drugs. They engage in more risky behaviors and become the victims of more crime -such as sexual assaults. They engage in sex at an earlier age than do those whose friends do not drink, and they are more likely to have unsafe sex. They are also much more likely to accept a ride from a friend that has been drinking. As a result, those whose friends engage in underage drinking have an increased mortality rate compared to those whose friends do not drink.

Quality of Relationships: Those whose friends engage in underage drinking are also more likely to become involved in a violent or abuse relationship. They are significantly more likely to report experiencing strong pressure to drink, and to identify drinking as an important aspect of their social status. Those whose friends engage in underage drinking are also less likely to receive help when needed. Widespread legislation has been enacted in an effort to extend immunity to those who engage in underage drinking. The move comes in response to the alarming rate at which underage drinkers abandon friends who succumb to alcohol or drug involved overdose.

Alcohol Tutorial: Page 18 of 23

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The statistics found on this page are cited in other areas of the tutorial. Most can be found on the “Underage Drinking” page.