THE SCHOOL

Recent research shows that the human brain continues to develop into the early twenties.1

• Research indicates that adolescents who abuse alcohol may remember 10% less of what they have learned than those who don’t drink. 1
  

• Compared with other students, the approximately one million frequent heavy drinkers have mostly low grades (D’s and F’s) in school. 2

• High school students who use alcohol or other drugs frequently are up to five times more likely than other students to drop out of school.3

• Evidence suggests that alcohol use by peers is a strong predictor of adolescent use of alcohol.4
  
• One national study found that students are less likely to use alcohol if they are socially accepted by people at school, and feel that teachers treat students fairly.5

References

1 Brown SA, Tapert SF, Granholm E, et al. 2000. Neurocognitive functioning of adolescents: Effects of protracted alcohol use. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 24(2):164-171.

2 Hingson RW, Hereen T, Winter MR. 2006. Age at drinking onset and alcohol dependence: Age at onset, duration, and severity. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 160(7):739-746

3 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. 2001. Malignant Neglect: Substance Abuse and America’s Schools. New York: Columbia University.

4 Hawkins JD, Graham JW, Maguin E, et al. 1997. Exploring the effects of age of alcohol use initiation and psychosocial risk factors on subsequent alcohol misuse. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 58(3):280-290.

5 Resnick MD, Bearman PS, Blum RW, et al. 1997. Protecting adolescents from harm: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health. Journal of the American Medical Association 278(10):823-832.