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Small amounts of alcohol:
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Medium amounts of alcohol:
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Large amounts of alcohol:
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Invisible short-term effects on the body
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Samsha’s National Clearinghouse, n.d.)
Brain When alcohol reaches the outer brain it distorts judgment and lowers inhibitions, while producing a sense of pleasure (euphoria). As more alcohol is guzzled, coordination and perception are affected and sometimes people experience black outs. When alcohol reaches the middle of the brain, reflexes decrease, a state of near-unconsciousness occurs and the person may lapse into a coma. The hangover the next day is due to lack of water and sugar in the brain. If so much alcohol is drank that it seeps into the inner core of the brain, heart rate drastically reduces and breathing stops leading to death. |
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Stomach & intestines Alcohol irritates the stomach causing heartburn and ulcers. Alcohol use may cause cancer of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. |
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LIVER The liver suffers the most damage, leading to destruction of liver cells and fat accumulation. The liver’s job is to keep poisons like germs and bacteria out of our blood. Too much drinking may lead to Cirrhosis, a disease that damages the liver and ultimately results in death. |
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Reproductive system Alcohol decreases testosterone in the male. Alcohol leads to decreased sexual performance and is toxic to the unborn child causing permanent tissue and organ damage. |
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(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Samsha’s National Clearinghouse, n.d.)
Killing brain cells |
Stomach Ulcers |
Do you wonder why you may be tempted to use alcohol?
Do you wonder why your friends abuse alcohol?
Is it hard for you to understand why kids your age drink?
Because everyone’s lives and experiences are so different from one another, it is important to understand how such a common problem like alcohol abuse can begin. Cognitive factors, peer pressure, and genetics all play major roles in what kids are exposed to and what problems may develop.
Cognitive factors, or how you think about stuff, affect how young adults prioritize activities such as alcohol or drug use. Risks such as sexual behavior, extreme sports, and drinking alcohol appear more desirable to adolescents, this may be due to the Behavior Decision Theory. This theory dictates that adolescents “calculat[e] the costs and benefits of alternative courses of action and behav[e] in ways that maximize the benefits and minimize the costs” (Steinberg, 89). By prioritizing wants and needs along with the possible consequences that accompany each option, the teen figures out what is best for them. Though the decision to drink may involve negative consequences, the consequences of not taking part in the action may be worse for the individual. Along with this theory, the desire to look “cool” to others becomes a main factor in alcohol abuse. When adolescents watch television, read magazines, or see friends in social situations, they get and give messages that drinking alcohol is a normal, fun part of adolescence. The truth of the matter is, not only is drinking illegal, but it may lead to false and empty relationships that aren’t really satisfying in the end (Steinberg, 87).
One of the reasons risky behaviors, such as alcohol use and abuse, become such a problem in adolescence is that teenagers are frequently unsupervised by parents or adults. Peer pressure becomes increasingly more powerful when kids are surrounded by solely their peers rather than peers and parents. When in social situations without adult supervision, peer influence intensifies and risky decisions such as drinking becomes much harder to reject (Steinberg, 92).
Because adolescents tend to spend more time with peers than family, the type of people kids choose to for friends are really important. These friends form groups that are called “reference groups.” These reference groups “provide their members with an identity in the eyes of other adolescents” (Steinberg, 181). They can form a complete persona for someone within their group. When an adolescent associates themselves with one of these groups, they (whether intentionally or not) associate themselves with the characteristics of the group as well. If their reference group is known for drinking or partying, other peers will see this individual as a drinker as well (even if that person does not drink). When the identity is formed for the teenager, they are more likely to conform to the already-chosen traits than if they had not been associated with the group to begin with.
Self-confidence can be such a struggle for developing teens, and crowds can dictate how this emotional battle plays out. Because crowds (and peer approval/disapproval) provide the most feedback to an individual during adolescence, it can become crucial that the teen conforms to whatever the crowd will most likely accept. If drinking is a common habit among the most popular crowds, the individual will strive to take on these characterizes as well in order to gain their approval (Steinberg, 181).
Factors within the home can influence adolescents to start drinking
as well. If one or both parents have drinking problems, their child
is more likely to develop a problem as well. Other problems that stem
from alcoholic parents include delinquent behavior, ADD or ADHD, drinking
problems and learning disabilities. Because adolescents’ attitude
towards alcohol come (in part) from their home environment, parents
must set a good example for alcohol rules and behaviors in front of
their children. Parents that don’t condemn or clearly state the
rules of drinking (or simply abuse alcohol themselves) pass on the attitude
that it is normal to drink or the attitude that underage drinking is
not as bad as people (or the law) make it out to be. “Sons of
alcoholic men have a 1in 4risk of becoming alcoholics. Daughters of
alcoholics are also at increased risk for alcoholism and are more likely
to marry alcoholic men, thereby continuing the cycle of family problems
with alcohol” (AAP Policy, Alcohol Use and Abuse: A Pediatric
Concern). Because women raised in a house with at least one parent with
drinking problems are more likely to marry someone with a drinking problem
as well, this pattern simply continues.
Alcohol is not just abused by adults. In fact, adolescents are at a major risk of making potentially life-threatening decisions about alcohol. A study found that over seven million kids between the ages of 12 and 20 admitted to drinking at least five times a month (U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 2002 National Survey).
Young people frequently feel that they are invincible, but alcohol is just as dangerous for teens as it as for adults--if not more! Adolescents do not have the experience that adults do regarding alcohol, so the decisions they make may not be well thought out and therefore, may be very risky.
Alcohol abuse seems to have a genetic influence. If parents are alcoholics, their children are at a greater risk of being alcoholics also. This does not mean that alcoholism is entirely genetic, however. Just because a child does not have alcoholic parents does not mean that he or she is not at risk to be an alcoholic (Sher, “Biological Factors and Adolescent Alcohol Use.”).
Alcohol is the leading cause of death in adolescents. Through car crashes, other accidents, and alcohol poisoning, alcohol kills more adolescents than any other cause of death including illness, homicide, and suicide. Over 5,000 people under the age of 21 die a year from alcohol related causes (The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).
Early binge drinking can lead to greater problems…
What is binge drinking? Binge drinking is drinking 5 or more drinks at one time. Did you know that lifelong drinking patterns often begin far sooner than high school and can be traced back to middle school drinking experiences (Guilamos-Ramos, 2005)? Middle school marks a difficult transition for anyone, but especially difficult for those that have moved, been forced to move or faced with great tragedy, such as those Hurricane Katrina survivors. Thus, for many teens alcohol seems to be a temporary cure for their problems. Binge drinking rates increases from 8% to 17% from seventh grade to eighth grade (Guilamos-Ramos, 2005). That means that almost 1 out of 5 thirteen year olds binge drink. Even scarier, is that a smaller number of teens understand the consequences that drinking has on the body. Please learn about the short-term and long-term effects of binge drinking because knowledge about the effects might just be the best deterrent.
Adolescents oftentimes get pressured into drinking. Peer pressure is one of the major factors in adolescent drinking. The amount of adolescents that drank increased over 1.8 million from 1990 to 2000. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2002 National Survey)
By the age of 15, many adolescents are already drinking on a regular basis. A study found that over forty percent of adolescents who drink before the age of fifteen will show signs of dependency on alcohol throughout their lives. If the average age of drinking is under the age of fifteen that means that many adolescents will rely on alcohol at some point in their lives. The decisions that we make as adolescents can stay with us for our entire lives. Important decision making regarding alcohol is necessary! (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2002 National Survey)
It’s time now to look at how you can prevent alcohol from taking over your life. In an ideal world, none of us would be affected by alcohol. You and your friends would be free from the brainwashing messages of our society and the media. You wouldn’t be pressured into drinking at a party. You wouldn’t have to worry about your friend’s substance abuse problem. Ideally, nobody would have to face the devastating effects of alcohol abuse.
Unfortunately for many of us, the problem of alcohol abuse does exist. Kids like you see and hear things about alcohol in your families, communities and society. The media shows you that alcohol use can be a source of entertainment, and even happiness. It is easy to buy into these messages and to want to use alcohol yourself. However, there are two things you should keep in mind: alcohol is dangerous, and it is a drug. There is no happiness or fun in being addicted to alcohol. Our goal as a nation then should be to prevent substance abuse in every community – that is to stop the problem before it can begin. By bringing effective prevention programs to every community we can all work together to reach this goal.
Let’s look at some prevention strategies that can help you keep alcohol from taking over your life.
Most kids agree that alcohol is easy to get in social, economical and commercial ways. Many kids find alcohol in their parents’ homes or from their friends’ parents. Others seek older friends and siblings to purchase alcohol for them, and many find stores who will illegally sell alcohol to underage minors. The reason that many of your friends choose to drink is because they can easily get alcohol. Help your friends avoid addiction and abuse by reminding them that it is illegal to obtain, possess and drink alcohol! Remind them that it’s unreasonable and irresponsible to think that you won’t get in trouble for underage drinking – you can even be arrested for underage drinking. Remind them of other peers who have been in trouble with the law for drinking (Leadership, 2004).
Too many people in today’s world think that underage drinking is inevitable. If you or your friends think that drinking is the only thing to do for fun or that drinking at your age is normal or okay, think again. Plan ahead so you and your friends don’t get stuck in a situation where drinking is all you can do. Try coming up with different activities, like a trip to the movies, the mall, a concert, or a sports game. Join a youth center or club, especially one in which you can make a difference in the world. It will feel a whole lot better than a hangover or relationships that are all about peer pressure and fitting in. (Leadership, 2004)
Here
are prevention programs that you can bring to your community to help
prevent your friends and peers from using and abusing alcohol
“Across Ages” http://modelprograms.samhsa.gov/ is a school and community based prevention program for youth between the ages of 9 and 13 years. This program works to strengthen the relationships between you and the adults in your community. Through a comfortable trusting relationship with a positive role model, you can get the support you need in making positive decisions. Through this program you can learn about health and substance abuse while developing healthy attitudes, intentions, and behavior toward drug use. (Model Programs, 2005).
Information from http://www.alcoholfreechildren.org/
“ProjectALERT” http://www.projectalert.com/ is a program currently being utilized by kids just like you all over the country! This project teaches students the actual skills for resisting substance use. Through this program, you and your classmates can work together towards making your school substance free. Wouldn’t it be cool to have the guts to say no to alcohol and drugs under pressure? That’s exactly what this program can help you to do (Project Alert, 2005).If you or a friend is struggling with alcohol abuse, there are many people and programs you can turn to for help. Just pick up the phone and call an anonymous hotline for advice (TheAlcohol and Drug Information hotline phone number is 1-800-729-6686). Or, go see your school guidance counselor. You can even go to your parents or your friend’s parents to ask for help. In case you are worried that if you go to your parents for help they will be too upset with you for using alcohol to help, put that worry to rest. Any parent would obviously rather their child come to them honestly and ask for help than get a phone call in the middle of the night saying that their son or daughter has been involved in an alcohol related accident. So, get help before it’s too late.
Once you reach out to somebody that you trust for help, there is a wide range of treatment services that you or your friend could become involved with to get free from alcohol abuse. These include self-help, psychotherapy, and community programs. Some examples are highlighted below:
“Self-help and Group help.” Self-help has become a central part of treatment when used in addition to therapy, or outpatient and residential programs. Self-help programs will help you with emotional issues, behavior problems and mental health problems. They will help you learn how to enjoy life free from substance abuse. Many kids find that support and self help groups give them great emotional support, coping skills and strategies towards positive changes (Self Help, 2000). An example of a self-help or group help program is Al-Anon (http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/). Al-Anon family groups provide a place and time for family members and friends to share thoughts, experiences, hopes, stresses and whatever else may come to mind in order to solve a common problem. Alcoholism is a family illness and its dynamics effect the entire family. Al-Anon and Alateen members are people just like you and me who feel that somebody else’s drinking has affected their lives. Together, members will provide each other with understanding and encouragement. (Al-Anon, 2004).
