Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention - Teen Age Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Use

Alcohol is the number one teen drug problem in New Hampshire. The Governor's Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment, is working with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to support community-based alcohol and other drug prevention and treatment programs that provide services to teens.

Research shows that almost one half of New Hampshire high school students--47 percent-- report regular alcohol use. Developing systems of support that work with teens and their families can help provide a better understanding of the scope of the problem that will allow the state to develop effective strategies to reduce underage alcohol problems.

Supporting NH's Youth

A State Strategy to Reduce Underage Alcohol Problems has been created by many individuals, community coalitions and organizations, public health advocates, state officials, law enforcement, education professionals, and prevention and treatment providers from across the state. Over the next three years the underlying objectives of the plan are:

To Keep the Public Informed
To Educate
To Limit Access
To Coordinate Prevention & Treatment Resources
To Research and Continually Evaluate Resources

The Facts

Today's youth are faced with many challenges and pressure to experience different kinds of drinking environments.

31 percent of NH high school students report binge drinking, which is defined as consuming 5 or more drinks on one or more occasions in the last 30 days.
1 in 4 (26 percent) high school students had their first drink of alcohol before the age of 13.
Youth who drink before they turn 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who start drinking at 21.
3 percent of parents think that their high school student has had 5 or more drinks in a row in the past month, and more than 30 percent of high school students report this behavior.
Teenagers, especially girls, obtain alcohol easily from their friends, family, and other adults.
In 2001, 30 percent of alcohol beverage outlets sold alcohol to minors.
Youth are drinking a wide range of alcoholic beverages such as alcopops, sweet tasting, fruit-flavored, and malt-based drinks.
A substantial portion of alcohol advertising reaches an underage audience. Youth see more advertising for beer than for juice, gum, sneakers, or jeans.