Underage Drinking and the Emergency Room
The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reports that hospital visits resulting from underage drinking combined with other drugs are almost twice as likely to lead to inpatient care. Of all drug-related emergency room visits from ages 12-20, 42% involved alcohol. The report also quotes a National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistic that of all 16-20 year-old drivers involved in fatal accidents, almost 25% had been drinking.