Teenage drinking, or politically known as underage drinking is something we as teens hear a lot about. They tell us don’t drink, don’t get influenced, so on and so on, but I think as a teenager in today’s society we just blow it off, because ‘that’s not going to happen to us’. In all honesty that’s exactly what I thought too. I myself don’t drink or do drugs, however every time I heard a lecture about drinking, and drugs I mentally just roll my eyes, because I thought everyone was being over dramatic.

Underage drinking is a serious matter, however as much as we hear and think there is drinking going on state wide and nationally, or taking place with our friends and fellow classmates, statistics have shown that in a survey taken last year, 2014 has actually been the lowest numbers since 2011 here at Sierra Linda.

Recently a friend of mine passed from underage drinking, in a car crash. Unfortunately I think that is how society is nowadays, in order for us to actually understand what’s going on or the seriousness of a situation we have to go through a similar situation or a traumatic event to actually understand the seriousness of the matter.

“One of the biggest problems with underage drinking is that many students think ‘everyone is doing it’ and this creates a lot of peer pressure” states Mrs.Luchsinger, the head teacher of PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports).

According to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and alcoholism, “Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking; this includes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, 1,600 as a result of homicides, 300 from suicide, as well as hundreds from other injuries such as falls, burns, and drowning.”

I know in today’s society it’s not easy, especially as a teenager, so when we hear about friends, and classmates ‘getting wasted’ we feel as if we won’t fit in, or as if we aren’t cool enough. Be strong, and be your own person, because being under the influence causes your brain to work different, make dumb choices, and dumb actions, weather you end up with pictures on the internet, wake up in a random place, or behind the wheel. It’s not worth it. Why sacrifice something of yourself, or your life for one night of fun, a night you might not even remember?

Data provided by Yesmina Luchsinger, PBIS director

To find help for you or a friend visit Alcoholics Anonymous West Phoenix:

http://www.aawestphoenix.org/