I sort of find it refreshing that Haley Joel Osment was driving a 10 year old Saturn when he wrecked. Looks like he's going to be ok. He's growing into a cutiehead teenager.

Looks like he's going to be ok.

Depends on why he crashed.

Depends on why he crashed.

Good point. "Awake and talking" probably doesn't mean "not drunk or stoned".

I will say that being drunk at 1 in the morning at 18, even driving, isn't necessarily a sign of some big Problem. If HJO was drunk or whatever.

Underaged drunk driving isn't a Problem?

I doubt he was. If there was a hint of it, they would have said so. or said something like "police will not confirm if HJO was under the influence"

I think it's a bad thing to do, but not necessarily a sign of alcoholism. Teenagers are stupid.

I had a whole theory in college, that I think turned out to be right, that it was impossible to tell who had a real problem with alcohol, and who just had a situational drinking problem.

I think it's a bad thing to do, but not necessarily a sign of alcoholism. Teenagers are stupid.

I didn't bring up alcoholism, though. I still think it's a Problem, both for the teen and the people around the incident.

Apparently teenagers are stupid, but millions of them manage to make it through without flipping their cars.

People are stupid, in my experience. Not just teenagers. Not even predominantly teenagers.

I doubt he was. If there was a hint of it, they would have said so. or said something like "police will not confirm if HJO was under the influence"

What about this report? Do you think there's no chance there?

it was impossible to tell who had a real problem with alcohol, and who just had a situational drinking problem.

Impossible for who? Medical professionals? Or laypeople?

Also, how are you defining a situational drinking problem--I'm assuming it rates lower on the grave scale, but why?

I have to agree with Jesse.

I make the distinction almost with what fixes the problem-- that is the people I think of as alcoholics really can never drink again, while I think it is possible for problem drinkers to become normal drinkers. My uncle, for example, had a problem drinking after he broke up a long time relationship, and in fact had enough DUI/DWI's to have his license taken away. After that, though, he sobered up, but will still drink wine at a Christmas party or something.

I am not sure a health professional would/could make a distinction.

I still think it's a Problem, both for the teen and the people around the incident.

Sure. I think we are just imparting different things to the Capital Letter P.

Impossible for who? Medical professionals? Or laypeople?

Impossible for me. As to the definition, some of the people who drank way too much in college were fine with drinking after graduation, and some weren't. The way I see it, some people were alcoholics, and some had situational drinking issues, in a situation where there were basically no restrictions on their behavior.