As opportunities to abuse alcohol rise earlier in life, youths from Riverside, Calif., to the East Coast must be warned of the substance’s harmful consequence at earlier ages. Exposure to alcoholic drinking at youthful ages can severely stunt physical and mental growth and increase the need of assistance from rehab centers later in life.
Furthermore, a study conducted by lead author Andrew Plunk, assistant professor of pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School, reported if the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) was lowered from 21 to 18, there would be an increased number of high school dropouts. The study researched MDLA changes from the 1970s and 1980s to investigate a correlation between younger MLDAs and high school dropout rates.
Young Teens Gain Access to Alcohol
By lowering the MLDA to 18, many high school seniors could legally purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. For Riverside high schoolers under the age of 18, this could lead to experimentation of alcohol supplied by legal-aged peers.
Considering the effects peer pressure and the desire to fit in, impressionable 14 to 17-year-olds would face a greater chance of abusing alcoholic drinks. Exposing underdeveloped youths to such powerful substances could pave the path to admittance of rehab centers when older.
Increased Dropout Rates
Going through high school with a greater influence of alcohol leads to more students who drop out. As part of the study, researchers examined 29 states in America that lowered the MLDA to 18 through 20 years old in the mid 1970s. “We saw a three percent increase in dropout rates in the whole sample,” Plunk reported.
The National Center for Educational Statistics predicts about 3.3 million students will graduate from public and private schools from Riverside to the tip of the East in 2016. Removing three percent of this population would result in 99,000 potentially drop outs if the MLDA lowered.
By having the MLDA of 21, teenagers will begin drinking alcoholic beverages at a more stable time of life. With less opportunities to abuse alcohol, more high school students will be encouraged to graduate and further reduce the need for correctional help of rehab centers.
Jeffrey Herbert is a health writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Miramar Recovery Center. Follow on Twitter
Furthermore, a study conducted by lead author Andrew Plunk, assistant professor of pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School, reported if the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) was lowered from 21 to 18, there would be an increased number of high school dropouts. The study researched MDLA changes from the 1970s and 1980s to investigate a correlation between younger MLDAs and high school dropout rates.
Young Teens Gain Access to Alcohol
By lowering the MLDA to 18, many high school seniors could legally purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. For Riverside high schoolers under the age of 18, this could lead to experimentation of alcohol supplied by legal-aged peers.
Considering the effects peer pressure and the desire to fit in, impressionable 14 to 17-year-olds would face a greater chance of abusing alcoholic drinks. Exposing underdeveloped youths to such powerful substances could pave the path to admittance of rehab centers when older.
Increased Dropout Rates
Going through high school with a greater influence of alcohol leads to more students who drop out. As part of the study, researchers examined 29 states in America that lowered the MLDA to 18 through 20 years old in the mid 1970s. “We saw a three percent increase in dropout rates in the whole sample,” Plunk reported.
The National Center for Educational Statistics predicts about 3.3 million students will graduate from public and private schools from Riverside to the tip of the East in 2016. Removing three percent of this population would result in 99,000 potentially drop outs if the MLDA lowered.
By having the MLDA of 21, teenagers will begin drinking alcoholic beverages at a more stable time of life. With less opportunities to abuse alcohol, more high school students will be encouraged to graduate and further reduce the need for correctional help of rehab centers.
Jeffrey Herbert is a health writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Miramar Recovery Center. Follow on Twitter