How to Know If Your Underage Child is Drinking Alcohol

Chronic alcoholism could be readily detected by just using your common sense, but the initial stage of its use is often difficult to detect, especially in growing teenagers. This is the crucial stage where parents are supposed to be aware of, so they could step in and prevent further addiction.

What are ways to detect alcohol use by your underage child? The following are ways to detect if your teen is under the influence of alcohol:

1.
Alcohol is a central nervous depressant, so his psycho-motor activities would be affected.

1.1.
His eyes would look drowsy

1.2.
He would walk unsteadily.

1.3.
He would talk with a slur.

1.4.
He would misjudge distances.

1.5.
There would be poor muscle coordination when he moves.

1.6.
He would be disoriented with regards to time and space.

2.
These are other symptoms:

2.1.
He would have that particular fruity odor in his breath and sweat.

2.2.
He may develop red rashes in his skin.

2.3.
He would vomit. This occurs when the intake was more than he could tolerate. The more he becomes accustomed to alcohol; however, the more his tolerance would increase. He would then increase his intake to get the desired effects.

2.4.
He would tend to forget things during a night out with friends. This is called alcoholic amnesia. Although this does not happen to everyone, there are instances in which loss of memory have been reported in the past.

2.5.
He would feel warm all over and complain that it feels hot even if the temperature is low.

2.6.
He would show fewer inhibitions. He would become bold and say things that he would not normally say.

2.7.
He would laugh even when you say things which are not funny; sometimes he would even become hysterical with laughter. Before concluding that the reaction is because of alcohol intake though, be sure that you did not initiate the laughter by saying something humorous.

2.8.
He would ask additional money more often, and would not say where to spend it specifically. If the addiction is not stopped earlier, he would even steal from you to finance his vice.

Make him aware that alcohol is addictive. Warn him about the dangers of alcoholism; that it would cause physical dependence; that one bottle could become two bottles, and then three, and so forth; so it's best not to start drinking. Inform him that constant and long term use of alcohol could cause irreversible liver cirrhosis and inevitable death.

If he keeps going out with his friends and comes home with the symptoms mentioned above, then it's time to do something about it. Give him a curfew time and be strict about it. Get to know his friends and their hobbies. Invite his friends to your house and introduce them to an activity that would turn their attention away from alcohol. The most effective activity would be sports (basketball, football, etc), and outdoor challenges like hiking, fishing and many others.

Be aware of the above-mentioned symptoms. Nip alcohol use at the very start. Don't wait for the last minute when it would be too late and your child is already in apparent danger. Don't think that it would go away by itself. A complete ban on alcohol is necessary as early as you notice the symptoms. I am certain you wouldn't want your child attending alcoholic anonymous sessions later on.