Impact of Underage Drinking on Adolescents
Juvenile delinquency is the participation of the minors in illegal behavior. These minors are the individuals who have not attained the statutory age of majority, i.e., the juveniles (Shoemaker, 2009). The underage individuals are commonly indulged in theft, larceny, truancy and even underage drinking. To deal with the juvenile delinquency, the legal systems adopt procedures like the juvenile detention centers, as well as, the court of law. It is a common knowledge that this menace has to be dealt with on urgent basis (Siegel & Welsh, 2017). Even the Mayor of Centervale has indicated the need for reducing, as well as, preventing such incidents, as the top priority for the city. Hence, a Community Initiative Program has been presented in the following part, which could help in this regard.
Underage drinking is a persistent problem in the communities of US and it affects the physical, neurological and emotional health of the youths (Summit Behavioral Health, 2017). The human brain continues on developing till the age of twenty-five approximately (Candy, 2011). The underage drinking impairs the neurological growth in the individuals, which results in the juvenile making irresponsible decisions, slow processing and sending of neural impulses, and even encounter memory lapses (Cauffman, 2010).
As per the reports, in 2007, the underage drinking cost the society $68 billion, and this figure included the loss of income, costs from suffering and pain, and medical bills. 19% of the drivers in 2009, within the age group of 16-20 were involved in fatal crashes and had the blood alcohol concentration over the permitted legal adult limit. It is also said that alcohol encourages risky sexual behavior as the youth who are intoxicated are more likely to indulge in sexual activities, resulting in sexually transmitted diseases or teenage pregnancies (Hanes, 2012).
The Community Initiative Program being drawn here is focused upon the issue of underage drinking and the target audience is the individual. Hence, the goals for this program include:
- Inculcating certain strategies at the school level emphasizing upon behavioral theory, knowledge of risk and protective factors. In addition to this, presenting the necessary information regarding alcohol and its impact, along with presentation of the statistics, as laid above.
- Structuring the skills training on a broader basis and developing cultural sensitivity, along with providing the teacher training and support.
- Indulging the youth in extracurricular strategies where they are supervised by a positive adult role model, and are made to attend youth leader intensive programs (Komro & Toomey, 2017).
In the last 5 years, there has been a remarkable growth in the juvenile related legislations in the United States (NCSL, 2015). There has been a shift in the juvenile justice policy and there is a clear departure from the legislations which were made twenty years back. The policies being developed currently are assigned to between outcomes for the youth and are focused upon the adolescent development (Johnson, Blum & Giedd, 2010).
After a shooting rise in the number of serious crimes being committed by the juveniles in the later parts of 1980s, as well as, in early 1990s, nearly each and every state had passed laws to hold such juvenile offenders to adult sentencing. Though, by 2015, this trend had changed and the state began re-thinking and re-examining its policies and tried to re-balance its approach regarding the juvenile justice. This was done to produce more effective response to the juvenile crimes, in addition to improving the overall justice system (NCSL, 2015).
Current Legislations on Juvenile Delinquency
The juvenile justice system has been reformed now and is largely a bipartisan issue (Lind, 2015). This is because a number of lawmakers are working together towards the development of new policies for aligning to sound fiscal responsibility, community safety, and as highlighted earlier, better results for the juveniles. The legislative reforms show an interest in a more cost-effective, as well as evidence based method as an alternative to incarcerations (Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2006).
A successful program in this regard has been the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), which had similar aims to that of the Community Initiative Program presented here. That program was also aimed at increasing awareness about the dangers of underage drinking through educational efforts (NHTSA, 2017). Though, even WRAP had faced certain problems, especially in its Sober Ride initiative, where the lack of operators, have resulted in a shortcoming for this program (Katie, 2009). By hiring more operatives, especially for the odd hours, this issue can be resolved.
Subculture theory is one of the theories regarding juvenile delinquency and was developed in 1955 by Albert Cohen. As per this theory, the juveniles who are unable in meeting the social standards seek validation from a subculture. And this subculture is formed of all such juveniles who do not confirm to the social standards. So, those individuals who face some or any issue in achieving their social standards, start drinking with such other individuals who face the similar issue. This even results in juveniles being a part of such groups, for the sake of being seen as socially acceptable (University of Portsmouth, 2017).
This theory can be used as an advantage for the Community Initiative Program being drawn here. This is because, instead of moving toward drinking, the juveniles may become a part of the group indulged in seeking help under this program. So, the subculture theory would still be maintained, but for the betterment of the society and the individual, and at the same time, would also deal with the menace of underage drinking.
This Community Initiative Program has to be implemented at the school levels, and at any such place where the juveniles are present. So, the places, like juvenile detention home or the community houses where the already implemented programs are being carried on, have to be the place where this initiative program is implanted at its outset. In addition to this, certain volunteers have to be appointed to propagate the implementation of this program.
Reformed Juvenile Justice System
In its implementation lies the very problem associated with this program. The key problem present in any of such programs is the acceptance and implementation of such programs. Even though the program may be beautifully and conclusively drafted, yet it could fail due to the failure in proper adoption of it. So, unless and until, the juvenile are ready to accept the program, the program is bound to fail. Even when the volunteers or the school authorities are successful in presenting and implementing this program, unless the juvenile really wants to, the program cannot deliver the desired results.
To judge if any program has been successful or not, it has to be evaluated. The program has to be measured in some manner or the other to demonstrate its success. For this Community Initiative Program, the success would be initially measured by the juveniles who can be successfully brought under this program. And for this, certain targets would be set. For instance, for the very first month, the target would be bringing at least 25 juveniles under this program, which would then gradually rise to 5% each month.
The second phase of evaluation of this program would be to calculate the success of the individual in this program. For this, their change in behavior would be evaluated. This evaluation would be taken from the law enforcement officers, the school authorities, the key members of the public and the family members of such an individual. This report will be the main thing demonstrating the success or failure of this program. The last phase of evaluation is a qualitative one, where the transition of an individual from a juvenile to a law abiding citizen would be measured.
References
Candy, B. (2011). Brain Maturity Extends Well Beyond Teen Years. Retrieved from: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=141164708
Cauffman, E., et al. (2010). Age Differences in Affective Decision Making as Indexed by Performance on the Iowa Gambling Task. Developmental Psychology, 46(1), 193–207.
Hanes, M. (2012). Effects and Consequences of Underage Drinking. Retrieved from: https://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/237145.pdf
Johnson, S.B., Blum, R.W., & Giedd, J.N. (2010). Adolescent Maturity and the Brain: The Promise and Pitfalls of Neuroscience Research in Adolescent Health Policy. Journal Adolescent Health, 45(3), 216–221.
Katie. (2009). WRAP SoberRide FAIL. Retrieved from: https://www.welovedc.com/2009/01/02/wrap-soberride-fail/
Komro, A.K. & Toomey, T.L. (2017). Strategies to Prevent Underage Drinking. Retrieved from: https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh26-1/5-14.htm
Lind, D. (2015). The criminal justice bill bringing President Obama and the Koch brothers together, explained. Retrieved from: https://www.vox.com/2015/10/1/9432017/sentencing-reform-corrections-act
NCSl. (2015). Trends In Juvenile Justice State Legislation 2011-2015. Retrieved from: https://www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/trends-in-juvenile-justice-state-legislation-2011-2015.aspx
NHTSA. (2017). An Impact Evaluation of Underage Drinking Prevention Projects. Retrieved from: www.safercar.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/809670.pdf
Shoemaker, D.J. (2009). Juvenile Delinquency. USA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Siegel, L.J., & Welsh, B.C. (2017). Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, Practice, and Law. USA: Cengage Learning.
Summit Behavioral Health. (2017). What Is the Worst-Case Scenario when Someone Is Addicted to Drugs or Alcohol?. Retrieved from: https://www.summitbehavioralhealth.com/resources/articles/consequences-of-addiction/
University of Portsmouth. (2017). Cohen’s Subcultural Theory. Retrieved from: https://compass.port.ac.uk/UoP/file/9127b0f2-dd6d-4cd7-8ef9-5368b13bfd3c/1/Subcultural_theory_IMSLRN.zip/page_02.htm
Washington State Institute for Public Policy. (2006). Evidence-Based Public Policy Options To Reduce Future Prison Construction, Criminal Justice Costs, And Crime Rates. Retrieved from: https://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/952/Wsipp_Evidence-Based-Public-Policy-Options-to-Reduce-Future-Prison-Construction-Criminal-Justice-Costs-and-Crime-Rates_Full-Report.pdf
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