Underage Drinking/Alcohol
Alcohol is a legal drug that affects many people’s lives. Underage drinking is a very scary path for our youth to take. Alcohol is a depressant that slows the functioning of your brain. When drinking alcohol, it reduces a person’s ability to think rationally and impairs your judgement. Alcohol is dangerous and has risks for everyone who drinks it, however it is even more dangerous for youth whose brains are still developing. Alcohol kills over 100, 000 people a year.
Binge Drinking is a big issue for teens and young adults. Binge drinking is defined as 5 drinks in a row for men and 4 for women. A standard drink is 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler, 8 ounces of a malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine, and 1.5 ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits. Binge drinking is very dangerous and is how most youth consumer alcohol. Binge drinking can lead to drinking and driving, unwanted sex, trouble with relationships, alcohol poisoning, legal problems, and death. Teens who binge drink are more likely to later become alcoholics in the future. Drinking and Driving is another huge issue for teens. Some teens don’t realize they have had too much to drink. A person who is 160 pounds and has 3 drinks in an hour is most likely over the legal limit to drink. Most teens who go out drinking and drinking 4 to 6 drinks an hour. It is a very dangerous combination and can have many negative consequences.
Possible Long Term Effects
Alcoholism
Liver Disease
High Blood Pressure
Permanent Brain Damage
Cancer
Family/Relationship Problems
Legal Issues
Loss of Job
Death
Test
Possible Short Term Effects
Slurred Speach
Impaired Judgement
Decreased Coordination
Vomiting
Short Term Memory Problems
Diarrhea
Upset Stomach
Blackouts
Unconsciousness
Alcohol Poisoning
Take Action Parents
Many parents believe that drinking is a rite of passage and that kids are just being kids. However, there are real dangers to underage drinking. Parents might think that as long as they take the keys to the car that they are keeping their kids safe at home drinking. There are many other risks to underage drinking besides drinking and driving. Underage drinking can lead to unwanted sex, unwanted pregnancy, trouble with relationships, experimenting with drugs, brain damage, alcohol poisoning, and death. Alcohol poisoning is more common with young people because they are usually binge drinking and don’t always know when enough is enough. Talk to your children and make the decision not to drink easy for them. Don’t host parties for kids that have alcohol, stand up to parents you know are hosting the parties, and protect your children.
CoAPT
Blanco Coalition of Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment of Substance Abuse.
© 2017 Blanco CoAPT