About Teenage Drinking
According to a 2005 survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, around 28 percent of 12- to 20-year-old individuals reported drinking alcohol in the past month. Teenage drinking is dangerous for a number of reasons, including drunk-driving deaths and alcohol poisoning. Talking to your teen about the dangers of alcohol before they are presented with the opportunity to drink reduces the risk that they will engage in this illegal and dangerous behavior.
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Teenage Drinking and Driving
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A high percentage of teen car deaths involve alcohol, with more than 1,900 dying every year. The combination of lack of experience behind the wheel and alcohol intake can have deadly results. If your teen is in a situation where alcohol is being consumed, be sure he knows to designate a sober driver. If he cannot find a designated driver, let him know that he can call a family member to pick him up.
Alcohol Poisoning
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Because teens do not have experience with drink, they may overconsume. This binge drinking can lead to more than just passing out. Alcohol poisoning is a serious issue that can cause death in extreme cases. The drinker's heart can stop beating while she is passed out, or she can vomit in her sleep, which is a choking hazard.
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Alcohol and Drug Use
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Teenage drinking can lead to more dangerous experimentation with other substances. If a teen is in a drinking environment, he is likely surrounded by a peer group that may pressure him into trying illegal narcotics.
Brain Development
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Some research suggests that the brain may continue to develop into the early 20s. Alcohol intake in teens can thwart this development and lead to intellectual and mental problems for life. Teenage drinkers' underdeveloped brains may also leave them more susceptible to alcohol addiction.
Alcohol and Sexual Behavior
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Drinking may also promote unhealthy sexual behavior in teens. The loosened inhibitions created by alcohol can lead to unprotected sex, which can cause pregnancy or the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.
Treatment
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Alcoholism is not just an adult problem, the same 2005 study found that 5.8 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds needed treatment for alcohol abuse. Look for signs of alcohol abuse and try to catch the problem early, so it does not turn into a chronic condition.
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