Teenagers and Alcohol: Getting to the Truth

Teen drinking is an unfortunate reality a lot of parents are having to face. According to the CDC, 4500 teens die each year due to excessive alcohol consumption. That is 4500 too many. Our teenagers need to get educated on drinking alcohol and how it really affects them. They need the truth.

One truth is that alcohol affects your brain. Excessive drinking can lead to a loss of coordination, bad judgment, impaired reflexes, distorted vision, memory problems and can even cause blackouts. But how much is too much? Most teens don't realize just how much they are consuming. For instance, different drinks have different levels of alcohol. They are not all the same. For some examples a 12 oz. beer is 5% alcohol, a glass of wine (5 oz.) has 12 oz. of alcohol, and a 1.5 oz. shot glass of hard liquor has 40% alcohol. Teens can sometime think if they have only had 1 shot or maybe 2 they haven't had much. The reality is they have.

Alcohol can also affect every organ in your body. Alcohol is absorbed directly into the blood stream and increases the risk for a variety of diseases. The main threat alcohol has on teenagers is that it can kill them.

According to the Focus Adolescent Services website the average age youth first try alcohol is at the age of 11 for boys and 13 for girls. By the age of 14 most youth have had at least one drink. Those are some scary and very serious statistics. It has also been estimated that over 3 million teenagers are alcoholics. What starts out as fun for a go lucky teenager can turn into a deadly and dangerous disease.

Teenagers need to be made aware of the facts and the law. It is against the law to buy or possess alcohol if you are under the age of 21. One drink can cause you to fail a breath test. In some States a failed breath test can result in the loss of their drivers license, a possible heavy fine, and their vehicle permanently taken away.

Another truth that teenagers need to be made aware of that alcohol is a drug. If mixed with other drugs can be a very deadly combination.

What can parents do to prevent their teen from drinking? There are ways you can be a positive influence on your children and can help them to make the right decision when it comes to drinking. Ultimately, it ends up on the child whether they will take that first drink or not. When they are educated and have open communication with their parents they are more likely to make good decisions. First thing to know is to not assume your child will not drink or that they know how you feel about it. Talk to them and let them know why you feel the way you do. Set boundaries. Have set consequences if the rules are broken. The first and foremost most important thing you can do is to have a good relationship with your child with open communication.

If you teen is already drinking it is not too late. There is help available. You can contact the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at #1-800-729-4889. They can direct you to referrals and programs that are located in your community.

Sources:

http://www.cdc.org

http://www.focusas.com