San Diego County Responds to the Amethyst Initiative

The Amethyst Initiative

PART 1

The Amethyst Initiative is a recent movement of over 130 college presidents requesting the nation lower the legal drinking age. This absurd suggestion not only could endanger young lives but it reveals backwards thinking by professionals who should be looking out for those they serve (Hazelden, 2008).

Underage drinking is on the rise. Ten percent of Alcoholics Anonymous members are under the age of 30 (Alcoholics Anonymous, 2007). This community-based support network responded to the needs of young people when Alateen spurred off from Al-Anon – a support group for loved ones of alcoholics. Among 12-20 year olds, over 47% are current drinkers and 26% meet the criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence compared to 9.6% of those over the legal drinking age (Discovery Health, 2009).

In 1988, 21 became the legal minimum drinking age in all 50 states. The U.S. Department of Transportation states that in spring of 2004, over 18,000 lives were saved through decreases in alcohol-related accidents, which are the leading cause of death of young people in our country (Hazelden, 2008).

Although severe health problems associated with alcohol abuse are not as common in adolescents, studies show that young people set themselves up for these risks when they drink heavily from an early age. Brain damage can occur, as alcohol affects the maturation of young tissue. Lasting effects to long-term memory and learning skills are evident in adults who began drinking at an early age. Drinking can also elevate liver enzymes and effect growth and development. In fact, consuming alcohol during puberty adversely affects the maturation of reproductive organs and can upset the hormonal balance for normal development of organs, bones and muscles (NIAAA, 2006).

Discovery Health (2006) has stated that almost all (96.8%) of the adult drinkers with alcohol abuse and dependence began drinking prior to the age of 21. A common phrase in Alcoholics Anonymous regarding young drinkers is, if you're not an alcoholic, you're studying hard to be one. This may be true for many young people. If so, why would we lower the legal drinking age and invite them to try it on for size?

Over one third of United States alcohol sales are to underage and/or abusive drinkers (Discovery Health, 2009). It seems the financial interests of the alcohol industry may be weightier than the interests of our young peoples health. Lowering the legal drinking age certainly would not solve these problems but only serve to exaggerate them.

Tamra Anderson

Clinical Administrator

Lasting Recovery