Getting the Facts
Just about everyone knows that the legal drinking age throughout
the United States is 21. But according to the National Center on
Addiction and Substance Abuse, almost 80% of high school students
have tried alcohol.
Deciding whether to drink is a personal decision that we each
eventually have to make. This article provides some information on
alcohol, including how it affects your body, so you can make an
educated choice.
What Is Alcohol?
Alcohol is created when grains, fruits, or vegetables are
fermented
. Fermentation is a process that uses yeast or bacteria to change
the sugars in the food into alcohol. Fermentation is used to
produce many necessary items - everything from cheese to
medications. Alcohol has different forms and can be used as a
cleaner, an antiseptic, or a sedative.
So if alcohol is a natural product, why do teens need to be
concerned about drinking it? When people drink alcohol, it's
absorbed into their bloodstream. From there, it affects the central
nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), which controls
virtually all body functions. Because experts now know that the
human brain is still developing during our teens, scientists are
researching the effects drinking alcohol can have on the teen
brain.
How Does It Affect the Body?
Alcohol is a
depressant
, which means it slows the function of the central nervous system.
Alcohol actually blocks some of the messages trying to get to the
brain. This alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement,
vision, and hearing.
In very small amounts, alcohol can help a person feel more
relaxed or less anxious. More alcohol causes greater changes in the
brain, resulting in
intoxication
. People who have overused alcohol may stagger, lose their
coordination, and slur their speech. They will probably be confused
and disoriented. Depending on the person, intoxication can make
someone very friendly and talkative or very aggressive and angry.
Reaction times are slowed dramatically - which is why people are
told not to drink and drive. People who are intoxicated may think
they're moving properly when they're not. They may act
totally out of character.
When large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short period of
time,
alcohol poisoning
can result. Alcohol poisoning is exactly what it sounds like - the
body has become poisoned by large amounts of alcohol. Violent
vomiting is usually the first symptom of alcohol poisoning. Extreme
sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, dangerously low
blood sugar, seizures, and even death may result.
Why Do Teens Drink?
Experimentation with alcohol during the teen years is common.
Some reasons that teens use alcohol and other drugs are:
- curiosity
- to feel good, reduce stress, and relax
- to fit in
- to feel older
From a very young age, kids see advertising messages showing
beautiful people enjoying life - and alcohol. And because many
parents and other adults use alcohol socially - having beer or wine
with dinner, for example - alcohol seems harmless to many
teens.
Why Shouldn't I Drink?
Although it's illegal to buy alcohol in the United States
until the age of 21, most teens can get access to it. It's
therefore up to you to make a decision about drinking. In addition
to the possibility of becoming addicted, there are some downsides
to drinking:
The punishment is severe.
Teens who drink put themselves at risk for obvious problems with
the law (it's illegal; you can get arrested). Teens who drink
are also more likely to get into fights and commit crimes than
those who don't.
People who drink regularly also often have problems with school.
Drinking can damage a student's ability to study well and get
decent grades, as well as affect sports performance (the
coordination thing).
You can look really stupid.
The impression is that drinking is cool, but the nervous system
changes that come from drinking alcohol can make people do stupid
or embarrassing things, like throwing up or peeing on themselves.
Drinking also gives people bad breath, and no one enjoys a
hangover.
Alcohol puts your health at risk.
Teens who drink are more likely to be sexually active and to have
unsafe, unprotected sex. Resulting pregnancies and sexually
transmitted diseases can change - or even end - lives. The risk of
injuring yourself, maybe even fatally, is higher when you're
under the influence, too. One half of all drowning deaths among
teen guys are related to alcohol use. Use of alcohol greatly
increases the chance that a teen will be involved in a car crash,
homicide, or suicide.
Teen drinkers are more likely to get fat or have health
problems, too. One study by the University of Washington found that
people who regularly had five or more drinks in a row starting at
age 13 were much more likely to be overweight or have high blood
pressure by age 24 than their nondrinking peers. People who
continue drinking heavily well into adulthood risk damaging their
organs, such as the liver, heart, and brain.
How Can I Avoid Drinking?
If all your friends drink and you don't want to, it can be
hard to say "no, thanks." No one wants to risk feeling
rejected or left out. Different strategies for turning down alcohol
work for different people. Some people find it helps to say no
without giving an explanation, others think offering their reasons
works better ("I'm not into drinking," "I have a
game tomorrow," or "my uncle died from drinking,"
for example).
If saying no to alcohol makes you feel uncomfortable in front of
people you know, blame your parents or another adult for your
refusal. Saying, "My parents are coming to pick me up
soon," "I already got in major trouble for drinking once,
I can't do it again," or "my coach would kill
me," can make saying no a bit easier for some.
If you're going to a party and you know there will be
alcohol, plan your strategy in advance. You and a friend can
develop a signal for when it's time to leave, for example. You
can also make sure that you have plans to do something besides just
hanging out in someone's basement drinking beer all night. Plan
a trip to the movies, the mall, a concert, or a sports event. You
might also organize your friends into a volleyball, bowling, or
softball team - any activity that gets you moving.
Girls or guys who have strong self-esteem are less likely to
become problem drinkers than people with low self-esteem.
Where Can I Get Help?
If you think you have a drinking problem, get help as soon as
possible. The best approach is to talk to an adult you trust. If
you can't approach your parents, talk to your doctor, school
counselor, clergy member, aunt, or uncle. It can be hard for some
people to talk to adults about these issues, but a supportive
person in a position to help can refer students to a drug and
alcohol counselor for evaluation and treatment.
In some states, this treatment is completely confidential. After
assessing a teen's problem, a counselor may recommend a brief
stay in rehab or outpatient treatment. These treatment centers help
a person gradually overcome the physical and psychological
dependence on alcohol.
What If I'm Concerned About Someone Else's
Drinking?
Sometimes people live in homes where a parent or other family
member drinks too much. This may make you angry, scared, and
depressed. Many people can't control their drinking without
help. This doesn't mean that they love or care about you any
less. Alcoholism is an illness that needs to be treated just like
other illnesses.
People with drinking problems can't stop drinking until they
are ready to admit they have a problem and get help. This can leave
family members and loved ones feeling helpless. The good news is
there are many places to turn for help: a supportive adult, such as
your guidance counselor, or a relative or older sibling will
understand what you're going through. Also, professional
organizations like Alateen can help.
If you have a friend whose drinking concerns you, make sure he
or she stays safe. Don't let your friend drink and drive, for
example. If you can, try to keep friends who have been drinking
from doing anything dangerous, such as trying to walk home at night
alone or starting a fight. And protect yourself, too. Don't get
in a car with someone who's been drinking, even if that person
is your ride home. Ask a sober adult to drive you instead or call a
cab.
Everyone makes decisions about whether to drink and how much -
even adults. It's possible to enjoy a party or other event just
as much, if not more so, when you don't drink. And with your
central nervous system working as it's supposed to, you'll
remember more about the great time you had!
Reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: April 2009
Originally reviewed by:
Eugene Shatz, MD
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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