Youth Drinking: Risk Factors and Consequences Alcohol, the most widely used and abused drug among youth, causes serious and potentially life-threatening problems for this population. Although alcohol is sometimes referred to as a "gateway drug" for youth because its use often precedes the use of other illicit substances, this terminology is counterproductive; youth drinking requires significant attention, not because of what it leads to but because of the extensive human and economic impact of alcohol …showed first 75 words of 2388 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2388 total…be ready to stop: the desire to stop drinking must come from within. No one can force an alcoholic to stop drinking. Because the alcoholic is sick, he hurts himself and others. Due to our close association with him, we, too, develop problems. The best way to help the compulsive drinker and ourselves is to build our own strength, correct our own attitudes, be kind to him, and learn how to detach from the problem