Unhappy Kids at School: A Look at Underage Drinking Statistics
[scriptless]Recent underage drinking statistics have been highlighted in a new study by Liverpool’s John Moores University Centre for Public Health. The results show a concerning link between children who dislike school and increased engagement in underage sex and drinking.
This detailed study followed nearly 4,000 children aged 11 to 14 and found that those who considered school an unpleasant environment were twice as likely to indulge in drinking and nearly three times as likely to engage in sexual activity, ranging from kissing to full intercourse. Published in the industry journal ‘Substance Abuse, Treatment, Prevention and Policy’, the research also underscored the risk among children with unhappy home lives and little parental support, as they too were prone to underage drinking.
Professor Mark Bellis, the lead researcher, commented: “Our study identifies that children who drink and are sexually active are also more likely to be unhappy with their school and home lives. Such children can become disengaged from both family and educational support, risking progression to sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancies, or becoming alcohol-related casualties in Accident & Emergency units.” The study clearly indicates that the children we most need to support are often the hardest to reach through conventional educational and parental routes. The story is also covered on the BBC News Page by John Moore’s University Centre for Public Health.
