Teen Alcohol Abuse

For young people, alcohol is the number one drug of choice. In fact, teens use alcohol more frequently and heavily than all other illegal drugs combined.

Although most children under age 14 have not yet begun to drink, early adolescence is a time of special risk for beginning to experiment with alcohol.

While some parents may feel relieved that their teen is "only" drinking,
it is important to remember that alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug.

Not only does alcohol affect the mind and body in often unpredictable ways, but teens lack the judgment and coping skills to handle alcohol wisely.

What Are The Consequences Of Teen Alcohol Abuse?

• Alcohol-related traffic crashes are a major cause of death among teens. Alcohol use also is linked with youthful deaths by drowning, suicide, and homicide.

• Teens who use alcohol are more likely to become sexually active at earlier ages, to have sexual intercourse more often, and to have unprotected sex than teens who do not drink.

• Young people who drink are more likely than others to be victims of violent crime, including rape, aggravated assault, and robbery.

• Teens who drink are more likely to have problems with school work and school conduct.

• Teen alcohol abuse can have a negative impact on self-esteem, relationship skills, physical and emotional independence, and future plans. As a result, teen drug abuse or alcohol problems may lead to difficulty building meaningful personal relationships or holding a job.

• An individual who begins drinking as a young teen is four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than someone who waits until adulthood to use alcohol.

And the longer children delay alcohol use, the less likely they are to develop any problems associated with it. That’s why it is so important to help your child avoid any alcohol use.

Why Do Teens Abuse Alcohol And Drugs?

Teens use alcohol and other drugs for many reasons. They may do it because they want to fit in socially, they like the way drugs or alcohol makes them feel, or they want to feel more grown up.

Teens tend to be risk-takers, and they may take drugs or drink alcohol because it seems exciting.

Adolescence who are at the biggest risk for developing serious teen alcohol abuse problems, are those with family members who already have problems with alcohol or drugs.

Also, teens who feel that they are not connected to or valued by their parents or who have poor self-esteem or emotional or mental health problems such as (depression) are at increased risk.

If your teen is abusing or dependent on a substance, seek appropriate treatment.

The most effective treatment programs will help your teen learn how to deal with drug cravings and high-risk situations and will help him or her discover alternative, healthy ways of meeting personal and social needs instead of using harmful substances.

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Robert and Shelley
Founders/Recovery Network

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