Since so many young people abuse alcohol, and treatment and recovery is costly and difficult, authorities in government, education, and law enforcement are making a concerted effort to prevent new cases of teen alcoholism from occurring. In order to do so, schools are educating young people about the dangers of alcoholism. At the same time, legislators are passing strict laws that punish people involved in providing alcohol to minors. The threat of arrest, say experts, prevents people from selling or giving alcohol to minors while making it more difficult for underage drinkers to obtain alcohol. Other laws target teenage drunk drivers. These laws, experts think, keep intoxicated teens off the roads.

An ongoing approach

There are a number of different programs that focus on educating young people about the dangers of abusing alcohol. Some begin in elementary school...