Teens-Why Shouldn’t I Drink Alcohol?
Alcohol can have a negative impact on the developing brain.
Underage drinking is also associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, self-injuries, and suicidal behavior and greater involvement in other risky behaviors such as high-risk sexual behavior and criminal behavior.
Use of alcohol during adolescence can have a negative impact on school attendance and performance.
Use of alcohol increases the risk of motor vehicle accidents.
Exposure to alcohol may impair synaptic maturation in the adolescent brain. Hippocampal volumes have been found to be smaller in teenagers reporting heavy alcohol use. Neurocognitive deficits in the domains of attention, information processing, memory, and executive functioning have been identified in those adolescents using alcohol compared with controls not using substances.
Early onset of drinking and heavy drinking in adolescence increase the risk of problematic drinking in adulthood.
What can Parents Do?
Know that a youth’s environment, particularly parental and peer modeling, can affect his or her alcohol use.
Adolescents report drinking more when they are exposed to parents who appear tolerant of underage drinking. Be clear about your disapproval of underage alcohol consumption.
A teenager’s close alliance to parents and family can be protective factors against adolescent alcohol use. Stay connected!
Limit media exposure to active alcohol marketing. Know that kids can get exposed to this through many forms of social media.
Know that there are devices to vape alcohol. Devices that allow for the vaping of alcohol can be ordered online, and do-it-yourself online video instructions are available as well. Alcohol is also contained in some of the e-liquids in e-cigarettes; some of these liquid products have contents modified to increase the amount of alcohol.
Know that powered alcohol can be bought on-line as well and added to any kind of liquid. Powder added to 6 oz of liquid can made a 10% alcohol drink. Be aware of what is out there and what to look for.
Talk with your kids about the risks associated with underage alcohol consumption.
Talk with your child’s health provider if you have concerns that your teen may be using alcohol.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics