Author: David J. Hanson, Ph.D.

“Underage drinking has reached epidemic proportions in America” warns Joe Califano, head of the private National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA). His alarm is ominous, even frightening, as he calls for strong action in response to this national crisis. But relax. Underage drinking isn’t increasing — it’s actually dropping! Not only are fewer…

The Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), a private interest group, claims that people aged 12 to 20 account for 25 percent, or one-fourth, of all alcohol consumed in the U.S. That assertion was the headline of the CASA press release and become the one featured by many news media. But the Substance Abuse…