Journal 19

What is Binge Drinking? Why is it so common among young people? Why is it so common in the CNMI?

Binge drinking is the consumption of high amount of alcohol in a short amount of time. 90% teenagers do binge drinking, while 1,800 students are killed every, also more than 600,000 are in serious conditions, and lastly 100,000 under the age of 21 became victims of sexual assaults due to the influence of alcohol according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. In my prior knowledge binge drinking is common amongst young people because going out with friends, or hanging out unsupervised by guardians will lead into irresponsible acts. Therefore, teens usually have their own ways to obtain alcohol without their guardians knowing and they would drink alcohol to have fun even though it is against the law, especially under the age of 21. In my opinion binge drinking is common in the CNMI because of the lack of discipline, peer pressure, and experimentation.

Lack of discipline on ones child can be dangerous because once your child is around kids who are doing anything illegal it can truly affect your child badly. Your child could be influenced into doing wrong actions, which could get your children arrested, or it could even cause them their lives.Teaching your child at an early age, especially in their teenage years about what is good and bad could set your child in a safe environment. For example, parents who are strict to their children to protect them because parents know how evil the world can be like being in an accident, or getting kidnapped. Furthermore, strict parents will always repeat themselves by saying not to involve yourselves into gangs, alcohol, drugs, and any dangerous related situations, which can ruin the lives of the innocent. Not only can alcoholism put your children into danger, but it will also lower grades and also higher absences. Moreover, more involved in fight, less participation in group activities, physical problems, unprotected sex, affecting normal growth, and higher risk of suicide. So, definitely being a great parents can save your children’s life and can influence others to do the same thing for the sake of the future.

The only reason why some teenagers do the things that they are not suppose do is because they see somebody and then they copy. Some teens do alcohol because of peer pressure. Many teens drink alcohol to be cool and to fit in with the other kids and everyone wants to experience what it is like to truly have fun, but having fun and knowing the possibility that you could lose your life is not fun at all. Furthermore, if a teen’s life is lost, some teens may want to change their habits because of a student dying, but many do not care because they are experiencing depression. Many teens resolve their depression through smoking and drinking. The only way that somebody can change or think twice about they are doing is when a student dies. Teens should stop what they are not supposed to do and do not wait until someone loses their life and teens should put their point of view as if they were the ones that got killed by alcohol. Regret and doubts should come to mind and change their perspective. Lastly, social does not matter if you are dead!

“I just want to try, to see how it feels like.” “I wonder what happens if I drink this, do I get drunk right away, or is it just in the movies?” “Do you think if I drink this, they would think i’m cool?” “Would they finally accept me if I do these?” These are the usual thoughts that comes mind to every teens, especially to the ones who want to experiment and prove something to somebody who does not even care. When a sober drug addict tells you not to do this listen to them because they have been through it all. They will usually tell you to promise them never to do anything your friends say, especially if you it is something dangerous and illegal. Listening to your parents can save your life and also listen to your grandparents because they have most likely tried, or heard of somebody that died because he or she did this. For example, my uncle who is now sober gave me money to never do drugs or anything that could ruin my life, but I already know what not to do because I am currently being raised by a strict father who only cares about my well being, so definitely listening to parents and others who have experience can change your point of view.

In conclusion, parenthood can greatly affect your child's future, being pressured to do certain things can lead into disasters, trying something you see is not always good, and your social status does not matter if you are six feet under the ground. Taking advice from your parents and following their instructions can lead in to a positive and safe environment. Being pressured into doing something, especially you know that it a bad thing to do is stupid and regretful. Doing things just so you can show everybody that you are the boos, or to prove yourself to somebody is foolish because if you want to be better than anybody else you have to beat yourself and not prove to someone does not care. Furthermore, if people know about you drinking and doing some other illegal stuff, then the chances into getting arrested is high and your parents finding out your doing these stuff is also high. So, definitely think before do something!

Works Cited:

“Fact Sheets - Underage Drinking.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 Oct. 2016, www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/underage-drinking.htm.

Gonchar, Michael. “Why Is Binge Drinking So Common Among Young People in the United States?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 21 Jan. 2015, learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/21/why-is-binge-drinking-so-common-among-young-people-in-the-united-states/.

Zeiger, Stacy. “Statistics on Peer Pressure.” LoveToKnow, LoveToKnow Corp, teens.lovetoknow.com/Statistics_on_Peer_Pressure.