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Alcohol Impaired Driving Facts
Risk Factors for Increased Alcohol Consumption
Risk Factors for Alcohol Impaired Driving
Protective Factors
Marijuana and Driving Facts
Traffic Safety and Impaired Driving Facts
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Risk Factors For Increased Alcohol Consumption
Traditionally, some people are at a higher risk for increased alcohol consumption or for driving impaired, depending on numerous factors ranging from family background to community environments and disposition. This in no way means that people fitting such descriptions are sure to abuse alcohol or drive impaired, but it's important to know the warning signs if you or someone you know is at risk. This way, you can make better and more conscious decisions in preventing negative behaviors and avoiding the consequences.
At the same time, studies have shown that there are factors that can help to ward off irresponsible drinking attitudes and behaviors. Having these factors in your favor is not fool proof though. Everyone, despite community, family, personality, etc., needs to be aware of the risks and make intelligent decisions for themselves.
- Statistically, men are more likely than women to
abuse alcohol, possibly even at a ratio of 5:1, however the gap
is increasingly narrowing. 3
- Whites and Native Americans are known for more
commonly abusing alcohol, though people from all races do so.
3
- The risk for alcoholism is higher among people who begin to drink in their early teens, as opposed to after age 21.
4
- Young adults with parents who have drinking problems
or addictions are much more likely to initiate drinking during
adolescence and to abuse alcohol, become dependent on it or develop
alcoholism. 1 A recent study found that about 25% of sons of alcoholic
fathers abuse or become dependent on alcohol or develop alcoholism.
2
- Parents' drinking behavior and favorable attitudes
about drinking have been positively associated with adolescents'
initiating and continuing drinking. 1
- Children who were warned about alcohol by their
parents and children who reported being closer to their parents
were less likely to start drinking. 1
- Lack of parental support, monitoring, and communication
have been significantly related to frequency of drinking, heavy
drinking, and drunkenness among adolescents. Harsh, inconsistent
discipline and hostility or rejection toward children have also
been found to significantly predict adolescent drinking and alcohol-related
problems. 1
- Peer drinking and peer acceptance of drinking have
been associated with adolescent drinking. 1
- Positive alcohol-related expectancies have been
identified as risk factors for adolescent drinking. Positive expectancies
about alcohol have been found to increase with age and to predict
the onset of drinking and problem drinking among adolescents.
1
General Risk Factors:
(taken from http://www.hawaii.gov/health/resource/adad/adprvpri.htm):
Community Environment:
Living in an economically depressed area with:
- High unemployment
- Inadequate housing
- High prevalence of crime
- High prevalence of illegal drug use
Minority status involving:
- Racial discrimination
- Culture devalued in American society
- Differing generational levels of assimilation
- Cultural and language barriers to getting adequate
health care and other social services
- Low educational levels
- Low achievement expectations from society
Family Environment:
- Alcohol and other drug dependency of parent(s)
- Parental abuse and neglect of children
- Antisocial, sexually deviant, or mentally ill parents
- High levels of family stress, including financial
strain
- Large, overcrowded family
- Unemployed or underemployed parents
- Parents with little education
- Socially isolated parents
- Single female parent without family/other support
- Family instability
- High level of marital and family conflict and/or
family violence
- Parental absenteeism due to separation, divorce,
or death
- Lack of family rituals
- Inadequate parenting and little parent/child contact
- Frequent family moves
Early Behavior Problems:
- Aggressiveness combined with shyness
- Aggressiveness
- Decreased social inhibition
- Emotional problems
- Inability to express feelings appropriately
- Hypersensitivity
- Inability to cope with stress
- Problems with relationships
- Cognitive problems
- Low self-esteem
- Difficult temperament
- Overreacting
Adolescent Problems:
- School failure and dropout
- At risk of dropping out
- Delinquency
- Violent acts
- Gateway drug use
- Other drug use and abuse
- Early unprotected sexual activity
- Teen pregnancy/parenthood
- Unemployment or underemployment
- At risk of being unemployed
- Mental health problems
- Suicidal
Negative Adolescent Behavior and Experiences:
- Lack of bonding to society (family, school, and
community)
- Rebelliousness and nonconformity
- Resistance to authority
- Strong need for independence
- Cultural alienation
- Fragile ego
- Feelings of failure
- Present versus future orientation
- Hopelessness
- Lack of self-confidence
- Low self-esteem
- Inability to form positive close relationships
- Vulnerability to negative peer pressure
References:
1. What You Need to Know About. Alcoholism and Substance
Abuse. Retrieved on February 1, 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://alcoholism.about.com/library/blnaa37.htm
2.
2007 National youth fatal crash and alcohol facts: Retrieved on February 1, 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/traffic_safety/driving_under_the_influence/crash_facts/natyouthcrash.html
3.Mental Health Channel. Alcohol Abuse and Dependence. Retrieved on February 1, 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www.mentalhealthchannel.net/alcohol/riskfactors.shtml
4.
Health A to Z. Risk Factors for Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse. Retrieved on February 1, 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/dc/caz/suba/alco/risks.jsp
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