Teenage Drinking

2009-01-27

Here are some key statistics provided by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on teenage drinking and alcohol abuse

Coolnurse.com shares insights as to why teens may begin drinking. The following is quoted from their website.

You might want to know a little about alcohol before you answer that question.

Alcohol is really a natural product that is created by the process of fermentation. Fermentation is what occurs when yeast and the sugar from vegetables and grains change the sugar (in the vegetables & grains) into alcohol. Sounds innocent enough doesn't it? But when you drink this natural product called alcohol, it is absorbed into your bloodstream, where it affects the central nervous system. The central nervous system is the control center for your whole body. Alcohol acts to slow down this control center. Since alcohol has a sedative effect, small amounts can reduce anxiety. Alcohol tends to block some of the commands the brain is sending to various parts of the body, and so it alters your senses. The more one drinks, the more his or her senses are altered. The result -- we've all seen people who have consumed too much alcohol. They have difficulty walking, talking, and even hearing, many will have "blackouts" and not remember what they did or said. Alcohol can even be lethal if one drinks an enormous amount.

If you are a drinker of alcohol, can you remember how you first got started? Many teens start drinking because their families drink. The glass of wine that dad may drink after dinner seems innocent enough. Advertisers portray drinking as "cool". Everyone in those ads seems to be having a good time. These ads seduce many teens to try alcohol. Teens may find alcohol to be relaxing, but there are many reasons they should not drink.

If you're in your early teens, your body is simply not ready to handle alcohol metabolically. And instead of acting cool, one who has been drinking often acts like a fool. If you get really drunk, you're almost certainly guaranteed a hangover -- pounding headache, intense thirst, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, blurry vision, shakiness, exhaustion, and more.

Teens who drink generally do not do well in school. They are more likely to engage in sexual activity while under the influence of alcohol. Safe sex is too often forgotten while under the influence of alcohol and a pregnant teenager with an STD is often the result. So drinking will not help you get away from your problems, as many teens think. It will only add to them. Teens who drink are more likely to get into fights and commit other crimes, which leads to problems with the law. Teens who drink are more likely to be involved in car accidents, and even commit crimes, these are facts that we can state based on studies of drinking and teenager behavior. Long-time drinkers can look forward to liver, heart, and brain problems.

If you believe that your teen may be involved in alcohol please get help before it is to late.


Featured Program



Quick Help Not sure where to start? Fill out our form and a representative will contact you shortly.

First Name:
Last Name:
Email Add:
Phone Num:
Description:
Enter Code:

Suggested Content

ADHD Alcohol & Teen Drinking Teenage Anger Problems Anxiety Disorders Asperger Syndrome Teen Behavior Problems Bullying

Counseling & Therapy Helping teens with Depression Highschool Dropouts Eating Disorders Firesetting