Chilling Teenage Drunk Driving Statistics

Getting a driver’s license was a proud day. Suddenly, a whole new world opened up to your teen. Now, they may become part of the teenage drunk driving statistics. What’s your next move?

Understanding What Teenage Drunk Driving Statistics Reveal

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain that about ten percent of teens drink and drive. For Florida teens, the number is between 9.2 percent and 11 percent. Furthermore, remember that this only refers to drunk drivers whom officers caught. There’s a significant dark figure of drunk teen drivers who get away with it.

Alcohol consumption increases a teen’s risk of dying in a car crash 17-fold.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism considers underage drinking a public health issue. Most importantly, it warns that drinking doesn’t start for this age group when youngsters get a license. Instead, it’s something that starts a lot earlier. Statistics suggest 33 percent of 15-year-olds have already taken their first alcoholic drink.

By 18, this number increases to 60 percent. To put it another way, those between 12 and 20 drink 11 percent of the alcoholic beverages Americans consume. Thus, binge drinking is a significant concern. Without intervention, teens become young adults who drink and drive.

Getting Help for an Alcohol Use Disorder

Teenage drunk driving statistics prove that there’s a significant need for addiction education among young people. Working with a good-quality rehab facility could be the best course of action. Many offer teen and young adult treatment programs. They specialize in helping people of this age group quit a destructive habit.

It starts with alcohol detox. But, first, your teen needs to quit drinking alcohol altogether. For some people, this can be problematic. That’s where the help of medical professionals offers assistance.

Next, they undergo rehab. Modalities include:

• Dual diagnosis treatment: This form of treatment is designed for those with a co-occurring disorder. This is when individuals are struggling with a substance use disorder and mental health issue simultaneously. For example, those people who struggle with addiction are more susceptible to depression and anxiety disorders. At the same time, many who abuse drugs or alcohol do so because of the stress of an undiagnosed mental health issue.
• Polysubstance abuse: It’s not uncommon for individuals to abuse multiple substances. While one substance may be the primary source of addiction, others can complicate treatment. To heal and recover completely, clients need to have all the substances they are addicted to treated.
• Family counseling services: This therapeutic approach allows loved ones to participate in a teen or young adult’s recovery efforts. It’s a way for individuals in treatment to take responsibility but for family members to also learn how their behavior affects or contributes to addiction. The goal is to help everyone learn how to develop healthy coping mechanisms.
• Mindfulness-based treatment: This approach embraces holistic approaches that are just as concerned with an individual’s emotional and psychological needs as their physical needs. Mindfulness teaches clients how to live in the present and reduce stress or anxiety.

Choose the Right Treatment Delivery at Beaches Recovery

Young adults frequently appreciate the opportunity to check-in for residential treatment. It lets them get away from a peer group that could be supporting bad habits. Teens may want to stay with their parents, though. A partial hospitalization program might be the best option in this situation. Some of our other addiction treatment programs include:

• Drug and alcohol detox at our partner facility, Tides Edge
• Residential treatment
• Inpatient extended care
• Intensive outpatient program
• Outpatient treatment
• Sober living

Of course, you might decide that your teen needs some distance from a negative peer group, too. But, again, residential treatment is the right buffer. It combines supervision with healthy peer interactions.

Addiction specialists help you decide on the best setup. Most importantly, remember that the right type of treatment is vital for recovery. It could prevent your loved one from becoming one of the teenage drunk driving statistics. Learn more about the teen drug and alcohol rehab programs at Beaches Recovery by calling 866.605.0532, or contact us online.