Fourth of July Weekend is a Time of Increased Health Risks for Young People

Fourth of July weekend is a time of celebration, cookouts and fire works, but for young people it is a time of underage drinking, according to the findings of a new study.

A study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA] found that "during the holiday weekend of July 3-5, 2009, there was a daily average of 942 emergency department visits related to alcohol use by people under the age of 21," according to a press release that was released July 1, 2011.

Two thirds, or 622, of those visits were made by males; 320 visits were made by females. According to the study, there was a daily average of 304 underage drinking-related ER visits made by males in the month of July.

According to the release, the number of emergency department visits for young females remained steady throughout the month including the Fourth of July weekend, however the number of visits for young males doubled during the holiday weekend.

"This study sheds light on the grim truth that holidays are too often marked by a surge in underage drinking turning what should be a time of celebration into a time of tragedy," SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde stated in the release.

"Clear parental disapproval of alcohol use by their children can assist in preventing underage drinking," Hyde continued, citing that the SAMHSA developed an online tool to help parents create a plan of action to make their expectations known.