:The AA Blog

The word Alcoholism can be a tough term to deal with but nobody is too young (or too old for the matter) to have a problem with alcohol abuse. Teens can have an especially difficult time recognizing a developing drinking problem. However, make no mistake; teens are just as susceptible to alcoholism as adults are.

That is because alcoholism is an illness that does not discriminate when it comes to age, race or social standing. It does not matter what you drink or how long you have been drinking. What truly matters is what drinking does to you and Alcoholics Anonymous is there to help anyone who decides to stop drinking; no matter your age.

Only you can decide whether or not you have a drinking problem. Answer “Yes” or “No” to the following questions, which have been specially geared towards teens, to get a better insight into whether or not alcohol abuse is becoming a problem in your life:

- Are your grades starting to slip or are you goofing off at work because of alcohol?

- Do you drink because you have problems?

- Do you ever have loss of memory due to drinking?

- Do you think it’s “cool” to drink in social situations?

- Have you started to drink in the morning before school or work?

- Have you ever been in trouble because of drinking?

- Do you get drunk when you drink, even when you don’t mean to?

The Primary purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety; regardless of age. If you need help or if you’d like to talk to someone about your drinking, you can contact Alcoholics Anonymous by looking in your local phonebook or visiting www.AA.org

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Recently, 14 teenage kids admitted in court to attending a party which was fueled by alcohol last October in an area of the woods in Norfolk, Massachusetts. After the party, 17-year-old Taylor Meyer drowned in a swamp hust a few miles away.

The age of the kids who attended the party ranged from 16 to 20. Each of them admitted to being at the party and being involved in underage drinking. Under thee terms of their plea deals, the records of the kids will be wiped clean after attending 5 AA or NA meetings with a limited time frame. The teenagers are also required to perform 16 hours of community service.

Taylor Meyer’s mother, Kathi Meyer was present during the trial and silently watched as the young adults were sentenced. The brother of one of Taylor Meyer’s close friends is said to have provided the kids with a bottle of rum.

That young man, Brian Zuzick was only 19, however he has been charged with procuring alcohol for a minor and if convicted can face up to a year in prison along with a hefty fine.

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Around 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, the LAPD ordered Tommy Lee’s personal pilot, David Martz, to land his helicopter after they observed him flying erratically directly underneath an LAPD police chopper observing a structural fire.

After asking the helicopter to land, police, who intended to give David Martz a field sobriety test found that both Tommy Lee and his pilot were no where to be found. After looking for the pair for over 10 minutes in the airport, authorities found Martz and Tommy Lee in nearby hotel, drinking vodka.

Since Tommy Lee was only a passenger in the helicopter, he was apprehended and then quickly released. Although David Martz finally took the field sobriety test, the results of the test were not released. LAPD never charged David Martz. However, the LAPD did release a statement noting that their investigation will be forwarded to the Federal Aviation Administration which will then decide if they will take action against Martz.

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Lindsey Lohan, just like many other celebrities in Hollywood, has admitted herself into rehab multiple times already. Despite her reputation as a party girl, Lohan had long denied that her social life had gotten out of hand.

In a statement released by her publicist, Lohan states, “I have made a proactive decision to take care of my personal health. I appreciate your well wishes and ask that you please respect my privacy at this time.”

The 22-year-old starlet checked herself into L.A.’s Laurel Canyon Wonderland Center after an all-night drinking binge led to her being found early the next morning passed out in a hallway at a party hosted by Prince at the Beverly Wilshire.

According to the facility’s Web site, the Wonderland Center is a “residential treatment and detoxification facility providing services for alcohol, substance abuse and relapse-prevention programs.”

In a July 26 letter to Lohan, the CEO of Morgan Creek Productions, James G. Robinson, said Lohan was “discourteous, irresponsible and unprofessional” and was acting “like a spoiled child.” Being late to movie sets, skipping meetings with casting directors, and filling water bottles with Vodka at 19, this girl definitely needs to get her sh*! straight.

More and more celebrities are being admitted into rehabilitation for Alcohol and Narcotic Abuse these days more than ever. Why is it that these celebs can’t take control over their actions? If I were lucky enough to be as financially set as some of these rehab-a-holics are, I certainly wouldn’t be found passed out in a hallway.

Though many do argue that Lohan’s childhood fame, is the root of her current issues, I think its nothing more than an excuse. Hopefully she can get herself under control and get back into the spotlight where she definitely has alot of potential to becoming a respectable actress.

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Underage drinking has become quite common among teens and young adults. Early alcohol use may have long–lasting consequences. People who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence at some time in their lives compared with those who have their first drink at age 20 or older.

Underage alcohol consumption is more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined!

Some negative effects of underage drinking are as follows:

• Drinking and Driving
• Sexual Assault
• Suicide
• High-Risk Sex

Parents’ drinking behavior and favorable attitudes about drinking have been positively associated with adolescents’ initiating and continuing drinking. Children who were warned about alcohol by their parents and children who reported being closer to their parents were less likely to start drinking.

Here are some general tips for parents and other adults:

• When you talk with your teens about drinking, listen to them and respect what they say.
• Make clear your expectation that your teens will not drink.
• Teach your children about the dangers of underage drinking.

Underage drinking can be hard to deal with as a parent. Teens like to do NOT what their parents tell them, but rather what they see their friends and peers at school doing in order to fit in or to be ‘cool’. Being open with your child about the risks involved with underage drinking is important in your parental duties and can help your child to better understand what exactly it is that they are getting themselves involved with.

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