Teen alcohol abuse statistics

Teen alcohol abuse statistics


Summary

Alcohol or 'booze' is widely used by teenagers. Binge drinking, drink driving and unsafe sex can all result from the misuse of alcohol. Alcohol is responsible for most drug-related deaths in the teenage population.

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Alcohol is tolerated as a socially acceptable drug, yet it is responsible for most drug-related deaths in the teenage population. Alcohol is also associated with a variety of serious health risks. It’s difficult to prevent teenagers from experimenting with alcohol, but parents can encourage sensible drinking habits.

The safest level of drinking for teenagers is no drinking, especially for young people under 15 years of age. If older teenagers do drink, parents can minimise the risks by providing adult supervision

Alcohol – the risks

Irresponsible use of alcohol can lead to:

• Binge drinking or drinking too much on a single occasion
• Drink driving
• Unsafe sex
• Impaired brain development
• Injury or death.

Binge or heavy drinking

Binge drinking is the term commonly used to describe drinking heavily over a short period of time with the intention of becoming intoxicated. This can be very harmful to a person’s health and wellbeing. As well as increasing the risk of health problems, this can lead young people to take risks and put themselves in dangerous situations. Common effects of binge episodes include:

• Hangovers
• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Shakiness.

Alcohol and sex

Alcohol impairs judgement. Teenagers are more likely to engage in unsafe sexual practices when they have been drinking. Other associated risks include:

• Date rape
• Sexual intercourse without a condom
• Exposure to sexually transmissible infections (STIs)
• Possible pregnancy.

Impaired brain development

Alcohol is a neurotoxin, which means it can poison the brain. One of the effects of excessive alcohol use is that it interferes with vitamin B absorption, which prevents the brain from working properly. Long-term drinking above the recommended levels may lead to a range of disorders, collectively known as alcohol-related brain injury (ARBI). Symptoms can include learning and memory problems and difficulties with balance.

Alcohol and other drugs

. Taking alcohol with other drugs that also suppress the central nervous system, such as heroin and benzodiazepines, can be particularly risky. It can cause a person’s breathing and heart rate to decrease to dangerous levels and increase the risk of overdose. The combination of alcohol and drugs (including cannabis) can also lead to increased risk taking, making it difficult to drive or carry out other activities, with the potential to harm others as well as the drinker.

Some factors that can prevent alcohol abuse

According to the text research, there are many important factors that help reduce the likelihood of a young person abusing alcohol. As well as good parental role modelling, these factors include:

• A loving, supportive home life
• Educational programs in schools on the use and misuse of alcohol
• Developing personal, social, academic and employment skills
• A healthy lifestyle, such as regular exercise and a love of sports
• Restrictions on alcohol advertising
• Avoiding the use of scare tactics, which can backfire and increase alcohol use among teenagers.

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