what are the causes of alcohol use amoung high school students?

There are a number of reasons -- curiosity, doing what friends do, depression (wanting to self medicate - feel better), but one that's often overlooked is parents' drinking patterns. If parents are over drinking or binge drinking or drinking to relieve stress, a bad day or a good day, and if they drink while out for a family meal or at a party and drive home --- they're sending a message to their teens that this is how alcohol is/can be used. Another reason is not talking about it. It's important to use sporting events, movies, favorite television programs, magazine ads... as jumping off points to start a discussion about the alcohol use that's presented. Additionally, there is the issue of availability. Parents need to monitor their alcohol supplies at home and to work on ways, with their teens, to set the limits that can give their teens the reasons they need to say, "No." This post may help, http://tiny.cc/Q5Js6  This post presents the lates brain research that may help better understand why teens should hold off with drinking, http://tiny.cc/SbbT3