creases, intoxication occurs, leading to alcohol poisoning, respiratory failure and eventually coma and death. Alcohol can prevent young people from developing good judgement, it can add stress and it can cause low self esteem. In addition, alcohol interferes with growth, and disrupts athletic ability by slowing down coordination and reflexes. Alcohol also lowers the body's immune system and causes many emotional, physical, and sexual problems. Sex can be a confusing topic for teens and alcohol doesn't make it any easier. It interferes with their ability to choose wisely. Alcohol also increases the risk of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, as well as date rape and other violence. "Almost half of the teens that are in custody of crimes such as rape, murder, assault and drug charges all claimed that they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crime" (www.library.thinkquest.org/ dwi. htm p.1of 2). (2)
             Binge drinking increases the risk for alcohol-related injury, especially for young people who often combine alcohol with other high risk activities such as impaired driving. Due to heavy binge drinking, nearly one out of every five teenagers (16%) has experienced blackouts after which they could not remember what happened the previous evening. What is binge drinking? Binge drinking can be defined as " the consumption of five or more drinks in a row on at least one occasion"(www.health.org/govpubs/binge.htm
             p.1of 2). (3) Binge drinking is very common amongst teenagers before a social gathering such as a dance or formal activity administrated by the school. According to the Centers for Disease Control Prevention the four leading injury-related causes of death among youths under the age of 19 are motor vehicle crashes, homicides, suicides, and drownings. Alcohol is involved in more than half of these deaths. Binge drinking, or the partying lifest
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