More teenagers with complete frenzy in clinic

„Binge drinking“ Young people are becoming more and more of a problem

02/06/2013

More and more children and adolescents are hospitalized because of alcohol abuse - this alarming development is reported by the Federal Statistical Office. Accordingly, in 2011 „26 349 children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 years hospitalized due to acute alcohol abuse“, according to the press release, which represents an increase of 1.4 percent compared to the previous year (comparisons to the previous year: 2010: 25 995 cases).

Guys more vulnerable than girls
According to the Wiesbaden statistics experts, this is "the fifth year in a row in which more than 20,000 adolescents had to be hospitalized due to alcohol poisoning". It was only ten years ago „just“ 12,794 cases. Affected are primarily boys: „Around 62% of those treated were male, although the proportion of the population is only 51%“, so the information of the Federal Office.

Regular drinking is normal for many young people
The fact that alcohol is already part of everyday life for many adolescents and young adults is also confirmed by the Federal Government's latest drug and addiction report, which was presented in May last year. Here, "14.2 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds stated that they regularly drink alcohol - at least once a week". In the case of young adults (18-25 years) it was almost 40 percent.

Also the so-called „Binge drinking“ or „Binge drinking“ is still relatively widespread among young people: 15.2 percent of 12 to 17-year-olds said so, „Have at least once five glasses of alcohol or more in a row in the last 30 days“, As the drug and addiction report 2012. Again, there are clear differences between the sexes: So every fifth boy (19.6 percent), but only one in ten girls (10.5 percent) was affected.

In the group of 18 to 25 year olds in 2011, just under 42%, the experience with the „Binge drinking“ also here, the young men were ahead (54.5% compared to 28.7% for the young women).

Drug Commissioner of the Federal Government calls for stronger education
In view of the current publication by the Federal Statistical Office, according to Mechthild Dyckmans, the Drug Commissioner of the Federal Government, there is an urgent need for action: „These figures show that we must not stop educating children and adolescents about the dangers of intoxicating.“ Dyckmans was particularly worrisome after „the recovery of 10 to 15 year olds“, because „Early alcohol consumption can lead to long-term health problems in children and adolescents and increases the risk of becoming dependent later“, said the drug commissioner.

For this reason, children and adolescents under the age of 16 should neither buy nor drink alcohol - and only if this limit were consistently met, the current development can be stopped, explains the expert and therefore appeals to the parents: „Parents must set clear rules and should also be a role model for their children through their own moderate consumption behavior. "

Alcohol abuse not only problem among teenagers
The current figures come from the 2011 diagnosis of hospital diagnoses, which makes it clear that alcohol abuse is not only a major problem among adolescents, because among the approximately 18.8 million patients who were hospitalized in hospital, the Cardiac insufficiency is the most frequent reason for a stay (380 100 cases) - but second (338 400 cases) were already psychological and behavioral disorders by alcohol, among which, according to the Federal Statistical Office and the acute alcohol abuse falls. (Sb)

Also read:
Comasaufen: More and more teenagers in clinics
Rising number of alcohol poisoning in children
Thousands of children with alcohol damage
Rich students drink more alcohol
Experts warn against children's snacks with alcohol content
Alcohol abuse in children declined slightly

Image: Petra Bork