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Report highlights teen drinking trends
By Staff Writer
 A recent report released by The Partnership at DrugFree.org and MetLife Foundation indicates that teens are starting to drink at younger ages and many feel that consuming alcohol in excess is normal for them and their peers. According to the survey's results, the average age at which underage drinkers consumed their first alcoholic beverage was 14. Officials from DrugFree.org said that this trend indicates that parents should be aware of their teens' drinking behaviors and should get them help at the first sign of alcohol abuse. The poll findings showed that nearly half of adolescent participants reported that they did not see a problem with drinking significant amounts of liquor on a daily basis. Moreover, a total of 73 percent of teens said that they had friends who consume alcohol at least once each week. While 60 percent of respondents indicated that they drank alcohol for fun, other survey-takers answered that they use liquor to relieve family or academic stress. The questionnaire results also showed that about one-third of parents do not think there is anything that adults can do to prevent teen drinking. Boarding schools for troubled youth may offer a healthy environment for teens to cope with their drinking problems and thrive academically.
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