The Patriot Post® · Some Encouraging Social Trends

While support for same-sex marriage is on the upswing, the news isn’t all bad for social conservatives — and there are even some encouraging trends. This week the Associated Press found that abortions nationwide are on the decline, having dropped an average of 12% over the last five years. Now another study shows that excessive alcohol consumption among minors dropped modestly between 2002 and 2013. “About 14.2% of underage people reported they had engaged in binge drinking — defined as having five or more drinks on the same occasion — in the last 30 days,” according to USA Today, citing statistics from a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration survey. “That percentage is down from just under 20% in 2002.” There is legitimate debate over what the legal drinking age should be, but everyone can (or at least should) agree there are dangers associated with excessive alcohol consumption regardless of age. The SAMHSA study and America’s falling teen pregnancy rate are both good news for America’s youth. On another note, we hear a lot about today’s “rape culture” on college campus, but rarely do pundits connect the dots. The fact is, many alleged sexual assaults on campuses involve drunken escapades. Interestingly, the survey also found that among 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds, the number of binge drinkers fluctuated between 39% and 44%. For those who don’t think parental involvement matters, think again.