HHS HealthBeat (February 04, 2008)

Alcohol, kids and violence

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Kids who start drinking before their teens have a higher risk of being a victim of violence or making a suicide attempt.

Researchers base that on survey data comparing kids who were drinking before age 13 with those who were not.

Monica Swahn of Georgia State University:

``It is clear from our study that those who were drinking early were at risk for different forms of violent outcomes.’’ (5 seconds)

Swahn says violence involving dates, and suicide attempts, was higher among drinkers.  Although all the students lived in a high-risk community, she says underage drinking is common across the nation.

Swahn says parents should keep alcohol away from kids and help kids say no to alcohol starting in elementary school.

The study in the journal Pediatrics was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

Last revised: February, 04 2008