Thursday, June 26, 2008
Parents, you may want to put down that glass--the results of a recent study, are not worth celebrating....
The most recent study by UF shows that a large number of teenagers taste alchol first in the presence fo their parents. But this could have a detrimental effect. Alcohol and drug prevention specialist at of UF's Gatorwell promotions Maureen Miller says some parents may not realize the seriiousness of introduing their children to alchol at a young age. While a glass of wine at dinner or a beer while watching tv may seem harmless, Miller says this provides teens easy access to alcohol.
But drinking in the early teen years can cause health problems. Miller says the human brain continues to develop into the twenties and undeage drinking can have some negative effects.
According to UF's study 1 out of 5 aged 12 to 20 engage in binge drinking. Miller says underage binge drinking has become so prevalent due to easy accessibility at home, adevertising, and peer pressure.
Parents do have a big role to play. Miller says if parents have a lax attitude toward underage drinking , then teens, too, think it's okay to drink, even though it is not only illegal, but physically damaging,.
But these findings seems to mirror what society has already noticed. Some UF experts wonder why researchers have continued to study underage drinking. Miller says the studies continue to keep parents aware that there is a problem and becoming more serious.