Youth and Alcohol

[cladking]

Alcohol is just a vehicle for the manifestation of preexisting behavioral problems. If alcohol is absent something else will neatly take it's place and bobs your uncle.

Or am I the only one who's ever been to an AA/NA meeting watching folks pound red bull and smoke cigarettes like it's going out of style?

IMO It's irresponsible and dangerous, not to mention ineffectual to blame the substance for the behavior.

I don't disagree but I believe there's a bigger picture here. You're porobably right that many of the people who kill themselves with drink probably would kill themselves with something else but with most other things people have control until they're actually dead. You can stop pot, risky behaviour, or any number of non-addictive things right up to the end. You can stop heroin and never use again. If you do you can stop again.

Alcohol is different for many people. Once they become addicted there is nothing to stop it. They must abstain or they're right back where they started. Not everyone is like this but if you've got much Irish, native American, or German blood it is a little more likely. I'd guess it's probably close to one third of people who are susceptible to it. If you're one of them and you drink too much for too long you are a life long addict and the odds are high you'll die from it.