Doctors Call Teen Drinking a Health Issue

A large group of children’s doctors is urging members to do more to discourage kids from drinking alcohol. The American Academy of Pediatrics issued the advice as part of a new policy on teen drinking. Alcohol damages kids’ developing brains, the policy notes. Drinking also can lead to addiction and deadly accidents. Alcohol contributes to other causes of teen deaths, such as homicide and suicide. And it can lead to other risky actions, such as unsafe sex. The policy urged doctors to discuss these facts with children. It said parents have a major role, too. They should provide a good example, set clear rules and enforce them. The journal Pediatrics published the policy. USA Today wrote about it April 12.