The younger the drinker, the faster the addiction to alcohol develops. Youth may become alcoholic in six months to three years, versus the 10 to 15 year pattern for adults. Alcoholic related accidents are the leading cause of death to young people, followed by homicide and suicide. Every 7.5 minutes 1 young person dies in an alcohol-related car accident. There are 500,000 alcoholics in the United States between the ages of 9 and 12.
Alcoholism knows no racial, social economic or sexual barriers.
In moderate to high doses alcohol will induce vomiting and impairment in higher mental functions, severely altering the ability to learn and remember. Serious health problems can and do occur before drinkers reach the stage of addiction. Alcohol abuse during pregnancy causes birth defects. These defects include mental retardation, irreversible physical abnormalities, behavioral problems, facial abnormalities, and defects of the heart, lungs, joints, and sexual organs. Current information indicates babies can develop some of the FAS symptoms even if the mother drinks only occasionally.