Teens who drink may suffer permanent brain damage.
A 2003 American Medical Association report on the use of alcohol among U.S. adolescents revealed that the average age for trying alcohol for the first time is 12. Furthermore, nearly 20 percent of teens report being binge drinkers, or consuming four or more drinks at one time. Of great concern is new research that indicates that teenage drinkers suffer far greater physiological damage than adult drinkers, and that some of the ill effects are permanent.
Alcohol and the Teenage Brain
Medical research is just beginning to uncover the physiological and psychological impact of drinking in the teenage years, but initial findings are grim. In a comparison of the brains of drinking teens versus non-drinkers, one study found that the hippocampus, the part of the brain that handles memory and learning, was 10 percent smaller among drinkers. This finding is attributed to the fact that the brains of young people are still growing and undergoing crucial development during these years, giving alcohol an opportunity to exact greater damage than on the mature brains of adults.
Researchers note that this difference is severe and irreversible, affecting the ability of adolescents to concentrate and do well in an academic setting. There may be some correlation between the impaired learning ability and the reduced number of years of schooling completed by teenage drinkers compared to kids who don't drink.
Emotional Health Effects
According to the AMA study, teens who abuse alcohol are far more likely to suffer depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Making things even more complicated is that some teens use alcohol to mask the symptoms of these emotional health disorders, making diagnosis and treatment far more difficult for parents and health-care providers.
Also of concern is the link between intoxication and more lethal suicide attempts. According to MedicineNet.com, high blood alcohol contents are often found in those who have committed suicide. More than three times as many eighth-grade girls who drink heavily report having attempted suicide, compared to girls of the same age who don't drink.
Alcohol and Risky Behaviors
The normal risk-seeking behavior of adolescence is enhanced when intoxicated. Teens who drink are more likely to engage in sexual activity and more likely engage in unprotected sex. Young drinkers are also more likely to have sex with strangers or the be the victim or the perpetrator of a sexual assault.
Each year, more than 2,000 young people die in auto accidents where underage drinking is a factor, notes Dr. Roxanne Dryden-Edwards.
Other Concerns
In contrast to adults, teens who drink tend to do so in conjunction with other drugs such as marijuana. Overall, adolescents who report drinking alcohol in excess are far more likely to use other drugs, as well.
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