Is Your Kid an Alcoholic? Study Says Your Teen May At Least Think Like One

According a new study by The Partnership at DrugFree.org, nearly half of all teens think that consuming five or more alcoholic beverages on a near-daily basis is no big deal--or, "nbd" as these teens would say.

The AP reports:

Downing five or more alcoholic drinks nearly every day isn't seen as a big problem for many of the nation's teens, says a new report.

When asked if they see "great risk" in drinking that much, almost half the teens questioned — 45 percent — didn't see it as a big deal.

The study being released Wednesday by The Partnership at Drugfree.org also showed upward trends in marijuana and Ecstasy use among young people in grades 9 through 12.

"You're seeing this weakness in this generation of teens' attitudes around drug and alcohol use," says Steve Pasierb, president of the partnership. "It's not like this generation of kids thinks they're more bulletproof than others, but they really don't see any harm in that heavy drinking."

Among teens, the average age when they had their first drink was 14, the study said.

Overall, 68 percent said they had consumed alcohol. Of those, one quarter of teens had their first drink at age 12 or younger...

Gregg Aguero of Houston, Texas, says he started drinking regularly at 13 after his parents split up. That led to cocaine and other drugs and eventually landed him in rehab for several stays.

Now 22 and in college, Aguero says he's been sober for 4 months and is trying to help teenagers avoid the mistakes he made.

"It's never too late," he tells them. "That's the most important thing. It's never too late to turn and get help."

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