5 Dangers Associated with Teenagers and Alcohol Abuse
About Teenagers and Alcohol Abuse
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 10.4 million people between the age of 12 and 20 had tried alcohol by age 15, and at least fifty percent of teenagers have had at least one full drink. Furthermore, by age 18, more than 70% of teens have had at least one drink.
Alcohol abuse is perceived to be fun and enjoyable for many teenagers, but it also leads to numerous accidental deaths and it can be dangerous. Many teenagers think drinking alcohol is okay since it is legal, and since they see others doing it, but since teenager’s brains are still developing, they are at a higher risk for making poorer decisions while they are under the influence of alcohol.
Five Dangers Associated with Alcohol Abuse and Teenagers
Drinking alcohol often causes teens to engage in risky behavior, such as drinking and driving.
There are numerous dangers associated with teenagers and alcohol abuse, since alcohol abuse will result in teenagers making poorer decisions. Below is a list if five of the main dangers associated with teenage alcohol abuse.
Incidents Causing Death: A teenager’s prefrontal cortex, which is the decision maker of the brain, has not fully developed, which is why teenagers commonly engage in more risky and dangerous activities than adults. When alcohol abuse is in the picture, a teenager is more likely to engage in dangerous activities, and some of these activities can lead to accidental deaths.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, on average, 5,000 people under the age of 21 die every year from alcohol related incidents, such as suicides, car crashes, homicides, alcohol poisoning, and other injuries such as burns, falls, and drowning.
Increased Sexual Activity: Alcohol abuse can lead to increased sexual activity due to the impairment of judgment that the substance causes. This can lead to unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Injuries: A teenager under the influence of alcohol is more prone to injuries since their coordination will become altered, and their judgment impaired.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in 2008, there were approximately 200,000 people under the age of 21, who visited an emergency room for alcohol related injuries.
Poor Decisions: Many poor decisions can be made while a person is under the influences of alcohol, and some of these decisions can come back and haunt a person after they sober up. Many teenagers get in fights with close friends while they are drinking, or become violent, which could land them in jail.
Physical Health and Brain Damage: One of the biggest dangers of teenage alcohol abuse is the physical damage it causes to a teenager’s body. Most people who abuse alcohol feel sick the next day, and large amounts of alcohol abuse can lead to alcohol poisoning, and cause damage to their brain.