How Alcohol Use at a Young Age Can Have Lifelong Effects
According to Kidshealth.org, teenage drinking is extremely prevalent. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse estimates that nearly 80 percent of high school students in the United States have tried an alcoholic beverage. Drinking at a young age can have devastating lifelong effects, including increasing your risk for numerous health problems and making it more likely that you could develop alcohol use disorder later in life.
It can be difficult for teenagers to resist the urge to drink alcohol, mainly if so many of their peers are doing it. Research shows that education and public outreach can help to deter drinking in young adults. Kidshealth.org outlines several reasons that a teen should think twice about drinking, including:
- Punishment – If you are caught drinking underage, you could face consequences from your school or university. Student-athletes are particularly vulnerable if they are caught drinking as it may be a violation of their player code of conduct. Additionally, an underage drinker could face criminal punishment from state or local law enforcement. Agencies across the country are cracking down on underage drinking, citing more individuals for using fake IDs, consuming alcohol underage, or buying alcohol illegally.
- Risk of Injury – Excessive drinking also carries with it a high risk of injury. If you drink and drive, the risk of you hurting yourself or someone else increases significantly since alcohol acts as a depressant slowing your reaction time. Alcohol is also a factor in numerous accidental deaths, including drownings.
- Health Problems – Teenage drinking or excessive alcohol use at any age can greatly affect your health doing damage to major organs. Binge drinking can also cause alcohol poisoning, which has proven fatal in numerous cases.
It is vital to remain in constant communication with your teen about the dangers of underage drinking. There are numerous resources and options for treatment if you suspect that your teenager may have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.