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Prevent Underage Drinking New Mexico

Underage Drinking in New Mexico

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Sheet

I. Depth of Problem:

  • How much of a problem is underage drinking in New Mexico?

Answer:  In 2005, 43.3% of 9-12th graders reported current alcohol use (defined as having had at least one drink in the last 30 days); in addition, 71.5% reported lifetime alcohol use (having had a drink of alcohol other than a few sips on at least one occasion).

  • What is “binge drinking” and is it a problem? 

Answer: “Binge drinking” is defined here as drinking five or more standard drinks in a row within a couple hours. People who engage in this manner of drinking are at increased risk for intoxication and a variety of associated risk behaviors and related harms. Sixty-percent (60%) of NM 9th graders and 70% of 11th and 12th graders reported binge drinking in the past month.

  • Do boys “binge” more than girls?

Answer: There are no significant differences in drinking behavior between boys and girls in New Mexico regarding “binge’ drinking.

  • Do certain ethnic groups “binge”drink more than others?

Answer: Among underage drinkers, there are no significant differences among the various groups.

  • Why is “binge” drinking dangerous?

Answer:  Drinking more than five drinks in a row within a couple hours (i.e., “binge” drinking) will generally result in impairment since the body (i.e., the liver) can’t process the alcohol. This will result in an accumulation of alcohol which in turn will result in impairment, which literally starts after the first drink. This is especially hazardous when driving a vehicle in that it reduces coordination, reaction time, attention, etc.

  • Are there other reasons why “binging” is dangerous?

Answer:  Alcohol consumption is a major contributor to the three leading causes of death (motor vehicle crashes, suicide, and homicide) among young people and is strongly associated with many other life-altering risk behaviors such as unplanned pregnancy, academic failure, and DWI.

In New Mexico, binge drinking high school students are 4-6 times as likely as non-drinkers to have driven after drinking.  A recent study of U.S. high school students showed that binge-drinking high school students are five times as likely as non-drinkers to have been pregnant or have gotten someone pregnant; four times as likely to have attempted suicide; and almost eleven times as likely to have ridden with a drinking driver. 

Underage drinking, especially underage binge drinking, is strongly associated with the development of adult chronic/heavy drinking and alcohol dependence.  These patterns of adult drinking contribute to alcohol-related chronic disease, particularly chronic liver disease, as youth who drink grow older. For the past 25 years NM has had among the highest rates of alcohol-related chronic disease death among the 50 states; and the highest rate since 1999.

  • When do our students start drinking?

Answer: The average age of first use is 12.5 years of age. Thirty-percent of NM high school students reported having their first drink before the age of 13. There are non-scientific reports of youth below the age of 10 starting to drink.

  • What do we know about students who start drinking that early?

Answer:  New Mexico ranks near the top (worst) for early underage alcohol use. Research tells us that youth who begin to drink before the age of 15 are five times as likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse as adults.

In addition, youth who start early are at higher risk for a whole group of risk factors including unplanned pregnancy, becoming involved with violence, and academic failure.

  • What alcoholic beverages do NM high school students drink?

Answer:  Unlike the recent past when “beer” was the choice, more of our youth, both boys and girls, now report that liquor is the type of alcoholic beverage usually consumed. Among girls, the second most usually consumed type of alcoholic beverage is “alcohol-pops”, which are usually highly flavored with sweet, fruity tastes to mask the alcohol.  Among boys, beer is the second most usually consumed type of alcoholic beverage.

Nationally, a new trend has emerged over the last couple of years of youth drinking alcohol-energy drinks. These drinks combine alcohol with large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, creating the illusion that one is not impaired.

  • How expensive is underage drinking in New Mexico?

Answer:  Conservative figures estimate the cost at $243 million dollars. These costs include medical care and work loss (but not pain and suffering). This is the average of $1,168 per youth in NM.

 

II. Parents and the Prevention of Underage Drinking

  • What can parents do to prevent underage drinking?

Answer:  Research indicates that parents are a leading factor in determining whether their kids will consume alcohol. Open communication on this topic is a must (see parental insert elsewhere on this website for specific tips).

If you are of legal age and  do drink, it is essential to model “low-risk” alcohol consumption guidelines (always “0” drinks, no more than “1” per day for women, no more than “2” per day for men). Women who are pregnant should avoid alcohol altogether.

  • Other than being a good parent, are there other things that should be done?

Answer: Yes, parents can get involved with local efforts to reduce risk factors in their neighborhoods and communities (e.g., restrict advertising of alcoholic beverages, monitor stores that sell alcohol and make sure they are not selling to youth under the age of 21, etc.)

Parents can also work with their school district to insure that their alcohol policy is responsive and helpful in sending a clear message that it is illegal and unhealthy for youth in school to drink alcohol. This is especially true for extra-curricular activities such as interscholastic sports.

Evidenced-based model programs should be implemented at the appropriate grade level before the age of onset (usually around the late elementary grades). Early intervention programs for youth who are already using should be integrated with counseling services and school-based health centers within the schools.

Parents also have tremendous power in determining when to allow their teens to get a drivers permit, and eventually a license. If there are episodes of drinking prior to the age of obtaining their driving permit (15 years of age in New Mexico), this “ parental permission”  is “a very big stick” in terms of parents’ encouraging the behaviors they want in their children. Parents should not hesitate to link getting a permit with expectations regarding alcohol use, both before the permit/license and after.

  • What are the laws in New Mexico regarding underage drinking?

Answer: In New Mexico, it is a 4th degree felony to sell or provide alcohol to someone who is under 21, making it one of the nation’s toughest laws (Section 60-7B-1A and F,  NMSA. Not only is it illegal to sell, it is illegal to provide/give alcohol to youth under the age of 21.

Sources for the above answers are contained within the following resources:

  • Underage Drinking In New Mexico, The Facts, published by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE).
  • The NSDUH Report: Alcohol Dependence or Abuse and Age at First Use -- SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use & Health
  • New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS): 2005 Report of State Results. New Mexico Departments of Health & Public Education; Santa Fe, NM, Green, D., Peñaloza, L.J., Chrisp, E., Dillon, M., Cassell, C.M., Tsinajinnie, E. Rinehart, J. & Ortega, W. (2006)
  • Miller JW, Naimi TS, Brewer RD, Jones SE. Binge drinking and associated health risk behaviors among high school students. Pediatrics. 2007 Jan;119(1):76-85.
  • Types of Alcoholic Beverages Usually Consumed by Students in 9th--12th Grades --- Four States, 2005, MMWR, 56(29);737-740). Centers for Disease Control, July 27, 2007
  • Drinking in America: Myths, Realities, and Prevention Policy, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and PIRE, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.
  • Alcohol Advertising: Next Steps for New Mexico, House Joint Memorial 64 Report, November 14, 2007, New Mexico Alcohol and Gaming Division
  • Fast Facts: Underage Drinking in New Mexico, New Mexico Traffic Safety Bureau and the Institute of Public Law, University of New Mexico School of Law
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