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What’s the big issue with teen drinking? You won’t believe these facts

teen drinking thumb
teen drinking

For decades people have debated whether teenagers should be allowed to drink alcohol. Every year scientists and researchers learn more about the impact alcohol has on the teenage mind, body and emotions.

We decided to put some of that information into this article so that you’re equipped with the latest facts rather than outdated opinions about this important subject.

Teen drinking – the facts

The age a person can legally drink alcohol varies from country to country. Some nations have no restrictions whatsoever (including Norway, Ghana and Jamaica) whilst elsewhere you have to be 21 before you’re allowed to drink (including the United States, Oman and Kazakhstan).

Despite the laws, a recent study reported that 86% of people admit to trying alcohol prior to age 21. Most teens seem to start drinking around the age of 15.

Why might that be an issue?

Well, the younger a person starts to drink alcohol, the greater their chance of them becoming addicted at some point in their life. Research shows that more than 4 in 10 people who drink before they are aged 15 will go on to become alcoholics.

Ouch!

Of course, none of us think it will happen to us, but that’s the power of addiction. It creeps up on people when they don’t expect it.

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What does Alcohol actually do to us?

Alcohol is a depressant that has a huge impact on our brain and body, including:

  • Inhibiting your ability to accurately sense and perceive your surroundings
  • Reduced ability to accurately assess the risks around you and keep yourself safe
  • Deterioration in your brain function and ability to make good judgments
  • Dehydration, which damages your skin and speeds up the aging process
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Irregular heart beat
  • Blackouts, concentration problems and permanent memory loss
  • Irreversible brain damage
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Stronger feelings of depression, anxiety and anger
  • Damage to the liver, pancreas and immune system, which raises your likelihood of contracting viruses and getting ill
  • Heightened risk of obesity, diabetes, stomach ulcers, heart disease, stroke and cancer

The devastating list of negative effects goes on and on.

Interestingly, many of these side effects occur in the days, weeks and months AFTER alcohol has been consumed not just whilst the alcohol is being consumed.

Alcohol often makes bad things happen

Research shows that teens who drink alcohol are more likely to be the victim of physical and sexual assault. They are also more likely to commit those crimes!

One study showed that 80% of crimes and admissions to hospitals during weekends were related to alcohol consumption. That’s insane!

Sadly, agood person can become capable of causing enormous unintended harm once they areunder the influence of alcohol. The law of unintended consequences (otherwise known as ‘I didn’t mean to do that’) doesn’t mean a thing once that line has been crossed.

Alcohol can damage your brain’s development

Research shows that your brain continues to develop well into your 20s. Drinking alcohol can irreversibly change the way this happens. It alters the brain’s structure and function and, in the process, damages intelligence and decision-making processes.

As well as causing cognitive or learning problems, it also makes the brain more prone to alcohol dependence. This is an even greater risk if a teen starts drinking very young and heavily.

Teenage drinking problems can cause long-lasting health problems

As well as brain impairment and chronic diseases associated with alcohol use, teens who misuse alcohol are more likely to suffer from side effects including eczema, headaches, depression and sleep disturbance.

If that wasn’t bad enough, alcohol also disturbs your hormonal balances that can result in acne and other horrible skin conditions.

Any image-conscious teen will be troubled at the thought, but alcohol also dehydrates the skin – the body’s largest organ and deprives it of vital vitamins and nutrients. Over time, more permanent, detrimental effects emerge, including rosacea, which is a rash on the face that makes people look flushed or persistently red in the face.

Want to know more?

Here are some helpful resources if you want to educated yourself in this area:

Too Smart to Start is one of our favourite resources on the subject. A US public education initiative, it’s chock-full of general facts and figures that apply wherever you may be in the world.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is a noted resource of clinical data and thorough fact sheets for the public about everything from hangovers to helping those in the grip of alcohol problems.

teenage brain 11

The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults, Frances E. Jensen, MD and Amy Ellis Nutt

Dr. Jensen explores adolescent brain functioning and development in the contexts of learning and multitasking, stress and memory, sleep, addiction, and decision-making.

Ultimately, you need to make your own mind up about whether teen drinking is a good idea or not. We encourage think for yourself and make choices that will help you create the life you want.

Please share your thoughts and comments on this subject below.