Drinking alcohol before turning 21 can be a risk to their health and cause legal consequences. According to Child Trends.org, alcohol prevention education is paying off. National use rates among those under 21 have declined from 43.2% in 2005 to 36.6% in 2011. In Iowa, the rate has plummeted from 22% in 2002 to just 11% in 2012, according to the 2002 and 2012 Iowa Youth Surveys. The State of Iowa’s success is a result of employing SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework.
Delaying first-time alcohol use to 21 lowers the overall risk that a youth will continue to drink into adulthood. Additionally, according to the 2007 Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking, a reduction in alcohol use at a young age lowers other things including accidental injury or death, automobile accidents, adolescent suicide, teen pregnancy, and the onset of alcohol use disorders. Lowering underage alcohol use also leads to students staying in school longer, higher achievement, and a better chance at getting into college.
Jackson Recovery Centers continues to serve Siouxland and the people who need a second chance at life. Our Prevention Department works with the communities we serve to educate and raise awareness about the dangers of underage drinking. Through this cooperative effort, we are making our communities safer and making young people healthier.
