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02/02/2005
Study reveals risk of young outdoor binge drinkers
A study into teenage drinking has found that young people in their early teens who participate in 'binge drinking' outside or in unsupervised locations run an "especially high risk" of harming their health and safety.
The study, conducted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, suggested that 14 and 15-year-olds who get drunk unsupervised run a high risk of injuring themselves in accidents or fights and put themselves in danger through "daring and irrational" behaviour. They also run the risk of becoming severely intoxicated. In contrast, the study found that 16 and 17-year-old who drink in pubs and clubs are less at risk, even though it is illegal.
Researchers from the Trust for the Study of Adolescence carried out interviews with 64 young people aged between 14-17 in south-east England. The study found that most of the young people drank to gain self-confidence and social enjoyment, although some admitted to getting drunk because of the 'buzz' it gave them, while others said they drank because they were bored. A small number admitted to drinking to escape from their problems.
Most of the teenagers regarded getting drunk as "normal and acceptable" behaviour and viewed drinking as a social activity. All of them also reported feeling the ill effects of hangovers, with a small number also admitting to suffering the effects of severe intoxication, such as collapse and vomiting.
Unprotected sex and other regretted sexual experiences were regarded as the other negative consequences of drinking.
A high proportion of those interviewed admitted to suffering injuries as a result of their drinking, most of which occurred while drinking outdoors. The study also found that drinking often led the teenagers to compromise their personal safety, for example, by walking home alone or getting into cars with drivers who had also been drinking.
Lester Coleman, co-author of the report, said: "In general, it was the 14 and 15-year-olds we interviewed and those who said they drank for the 'buzz' that were most likely to report harmful outcomes as a result of being drunk."
Co-author, Suzanne Cater, added: "There are valuable messages in this study for health and education initiatives to promote safer, more sensible drinking among young people – especially those whose drinking leads to risky behaviour and harmful outcomes."
(KMcA/SP)
The study, conducted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, suggested that 14 and 15-year-olds who get drunk unsupervised run a high risk of injuring themselves in accidents or fights and put themselves in danger through "daring and irrational" behaviour. They also run the risk of becoming severely intoxicated. In contrast, the study found that 16 and 17-year-old who drink in pubs and clubs are less at risk, even though it is illegal.
Researchers from the Trust for the Study of Adolescence carried out interviews with 64 young people aged between 14-17 in south-east England. The study found that most of the young people drank to gain self-confidence and social enjoyment, although some admitted to getting drunk because of the 'buzz' it gave them, while others said they drank because they were bored. A small number admitted to drinking to escape from their problems.
Most of the teenagers regarded getting drunk as "normal and acceptable" behaviour and viewed drinking as a social activity. All of them also reported feeling the ill effects of hangovers, with a small number also admitting to suffering the effects of severe intoxication, such as collapse and vomiting.
Unprotected sex and other regretted sexual experiences were regarded as the other negative consequences of drinking.
A high proportion of those interviewed admitted to suffering injuries as a result of their drinking, most of which occurred while drinking outdoors. The study also found that drinking often led the teenagers to compromise their personal safety, for example, by walking home alone or getting into cars with drivers who had also been drinking.
Lester Coleman, co-author of the report, said: "In general, it was the 14 and 15-year-olds we interviewed and those who said they drank for the 'buzz' that were most likely to report harmful outcomes as a result of being drunk."
Co-author, Suzanne Cater, added: "There are valuable messages in this study for health and education initiatives to promote safer, more sensible drinking among young people – especially those whose drinking leads to risky behaviour and harmful outcomes."
(KMcA/SP)
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