Keep Your Shots On The Court

The Sobering Facts

Important Facts you should know if you are under 21and thinking about drinking:

Young people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence and are two and a half times more likely to become abusers of alcohol than those who begin drinking at age 21.

In 2007, the economic impact of alcohol-related crimes, traffic crashes and fatalities, health care and other costs due to underage drinking totals slightly more than $3 billion, costing each resident $165 annually. (Study, Economic Costs of Underage Drinking in Florida, Florida DCF)

On average in South Florida (Miami-Dade and Broward County), 17% of middle school students and 38% of high school students surveyed drank alcohol in the past 30 days. (Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, 2008)

On average in South Florida (Miami-Dade and Broward County), 5.6% of middle school students and 20% of high students surveyed binge drank (5+ drinks in a row) in the past 30 days. (Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, 2008)

Youth who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop a dependence to alcohol than those who wait until age 21. (National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey, 1997)

Underage drinking is a cause of serious problems, including homicide, suicide, traumatic injury, drowning, burns, violent and property crime, high risk sex, fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol poisoning, and need for treatment for alcohol and dependence.

The Bottom Line:

You don't have to drink to have a good time!

Remember to KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME,
AND YOUR SHOTS ON THE COURT!

Grant, B.F., & Dawson, D.A. (1997)/ Ago at onset of alcohol use and it's association with DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence: Results from the Nation Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey. (Journal of Substance Abuse 9: 103-110.)
Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Treatement Episode Data Set (TEDS). (2004) Substance Abuse Treatment by Primary Substance of Abuse, According to Sex, Age, Race, and Ethnicity.)
Center for Disease Control (CDC). (2005). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS).