REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH
CM-CAH Report 2-A-06
Subject: Review of Underage Drinking Policy and New Policy to Add to TMA Policy Compendium
Presented by: Teri Perryman, MD, Chair
Referred to: Reference Committee on Public Health
At the meeting in September 2005, at the request of the chair of the Council on Public Health, the Committee on Child and Adolescent Health reviewed TMA and AMA policy statements regarding underage drinking. The committee's analysis and recommendations for retention and addition of these policy statements are summarized in this report.
The following policies are recommended for retention as they are current, valid, and relevant:
25.005 Drinking Age and Open Container Legislation : The Texas Medical Association supports an open container law and maintaining the drinking age at age 21 (Committee on Addictive Diseases, p 114, A-94; reaffirmed CPH Rep. 3-A-04).
25.009 Drunk Driving Zero Tolerance Laws: The Texas Medical Association supports a zero-tolerance drunk driving law for individuals under the age of 21 (Committee on Child and Adolescent Health, p 154, A-96).
25.011 Underage Drinking and Substance Abuse. The following statements are policies of the Texas Medical Association relating to underage drinking and/or substance abuse (Amended CPH Rep. 9-I-98):
- TMA encourages all physicians and residents to screen for alcohol and substance abuse during routine history taking, to offer counseling and/or referral where appropriate, and to engage in preventive counseling with children and youth.
- TMA recommends that medical school curricula, residency training programs, and continuing medical education programs emphasize all aspects of alcohol and drug abuse so that practicing physicians will be better prepared to meet the health needs of a changing society.
- TMA will actively work to minimize youth exposure to alcohol marketing and advertising through support of public policies that restrict alcohol advertising at youth events and in areas where youth congregate and support of advertising of pro-health messages to counteract alcohol ads in print and electronic media.
- TMA supports mandatory responsible beverage service training laws and favors reducing exemptions from penalties related to irresponsible alcohol service practices.
- TMA supports keg registration policies. Beer kegs can be marked with a unique identification number that enables police officers to identify the adult purchaser at parties where underage individuals are caught drinking beer from kegs.
- TMA supports restricting state agencies from accepting alcohol and tobacco advertising.
- TMA supports an open container law which makes it illegal to have open containers of alcoholic beverages in vehicles.
- TMA encourages enforcement of laws related to alcohol and other substances and supports increased resources for enforcement.
- TMA supports graduated licensing policies that put restrictions on conditions that contribute to teen drinking and driving fatalities.
- TMA supports legislation to reduce underage drinking.
25.004 Alcoholic Beverages : Beverages containing alcohol or resembling alcoholic beverages should not be sold to children whether or not such beverages are legally considered to be "alcoholic" (Committee on Addictive Diseases, p 115, A-94; reaffirmed CPH Rep. 3-A-04).
55.042 International Border Crossing by Minors : The Texas Medical Association supports legislation that would prohibit minors under 18 years of age from crossing international borders unless accompanied by a parent or guardian or with written consent from a parent or guardian (Res. 201-A-05).
Recommendation 1 : Retain.
The committee recommends adoption of the following policy statements:
Effects of Alcohol on the Brains of Underage Drinkers : The Texas Medical Association will consult with relevant specialty societies (whose members provide care for adolescents and young adults) in order to create a higher level of awareness about the harmful consequences of underage drinking, and seek to work collaboratively to address the underage drinking problem.
Student Life Style : The Texas Medical Association (1) supports educational programs for students that deal with the problem of alcoholism and drugs; and (2) encourages educational institutions to continue or institute efforts to eliminate the illegal and inappropriate use of alcohol and other drugs on their premises or at their functions.
Nationwide Legal Drinking Age of 21 Years : The Texas Medical Association (1) supports legislation to raise the minimum legal drinking age to 21; and (2) urges all physicians to educate their patients about the dangers of alcohol abuse and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
Screening Pediatric and Adolescent Injury Victims for Drugs and Alcohol : The Texas Medical Association: (1) supports drug and alcohol screening as an appropriate component of a comprehensive medical evaluation for pediatric and adolescent injury victims when clinically indicated; and (2) encourages physicians to actively pursue appropriate referral and treatment when clinically indicated for all pediatric and adolescent injury patients who test positive for the presence of drugs or alcohol.
Recommendations for Ensuring the Health of the Adolescent Athlete : (1) Preparticipation athletic examinations should remain focused on ensuring the safety of the adolescent athlete by assessing for health problems that could interfere with athletic performance and vice versa. (2) When possible, this assessment should include an interview with the adolescent to determine attitudes toward and use of illegal and ergogenic drugs, as well as use of alcohol and tobacco. (3) Athletes should be assessed for special health problems, such as anemia, amenorrhea in women, food and water restriction, and bulimia. Athletes also should be questioned about weight control methods. (4) All adolescent athletes should be provided information about the health hazards associated with use of drugs and alcohol, tobacco, ergogenic agents, excessive measures to control weight, and sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.
Removal of High Alcohol Content from Medications Targeted for Use by Children and Youth : The Texas Medical Association encourages pharmaceutical companies that manufacture medications which are high in alcohol concentrations to limit the alcohol content of their medications to the minimum amount necessary as determined solely by the physical and chemical characteristics of the medication.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Education : The Texas Medical Association: (1) supports continued encouragement for increased educational programs relating to use and abuse of alcohol, marijuana, and controlled substances; (2) supports the implementation of alcohol and marijuana education in comprehensive health education curricula, kindergarten through grade twelve; and (3) will work with the appropriate agencies to develop a state-funded educational campaign to counteract pressures on young people to use alcohol.
Alcohol and Substance Abuse Education of Medical Students and Residents: In cooperation with other organizations, the Texas Medical Association supports the education of medical students and residents in prevention and treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse in our youth.
Alcohol and Youth: The Texas Medical Association will work with appropriate agencies to draft legislation minimizing alcohol promotions, advertising, and other marketing strategies by the alcohol industry aimed at adolescents.
State of Concern Regarding Destructive Themes Contained in Entertainment Media, Communications, and Advertising : (1) The Texas Medical Association is concerned about the possible impact of destructive themes depicted in entertainment and communications media, including but not limited to: music of all kinds, videos, motion pictures, television entertainment, gaming, and advertising. The vivid depiction of drug and alcohol use, suicide, violence, demonology, sexual exploitation, racism, and bigotry is harmful to young people, especially vulnerable children and adolescents who are socially alienated from traditional value systems and positive support groups. (2) TMA urges four activities: (a) parents should be aware of the themes depicted in popular entertainment; monitor the concerts their children attend, the music videos they watch, and the musical media they purchase and discuss the potential effects of harmful themes with their children; (b) physicians should know about potentially destructive themes in entertainment media and should work to increase awareness of patients and communities about these themes; (c) members of the entertainment industry should exercise greater responsibility in presenting entertainment media to young people; and (d) all entertainment media should voluntarily label media in compliance with recently agreed upon labeling standards.
Teenage Drinking and Driving : The Texas Medical Association supports and encourages programs in elementary, middle, and secondary schools, colleges, and universities which provide information on the dangers of operating or traveling in a vehicle with someone under the influence of alcohol, and which emphasize that teenagers who drive should drink no alcoholic beverages whatsoever; and will work with private and civic groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to achieve the goals and intent of this resolution.
Recommendation 2 : Adopt.
TMA House of Delegates: TexMed 2006