Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

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.

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Alcoholism Treatment Centers for Lasting Recovery

Deciding to seek help for alcoholism is the very first step to finally recovering from a dangerous and deadly addiction to alcohol, but it’s also one of the most difficult decisions you will ever make. Choosing between the many alcoholism treatment centers that are available to help you or a loved one overcome addiction is….

Why Obama Isn’t Funding Needle Exchange Programs

Buried on page 795 of President Obama’s budget, released last Thursday, is a paragraph banning the federal funding of needle-exchange programs for drug addicts — an apparent about-face on his campaign promise to overturn that longstanding ban. To the further consternation of AIDS and addiction activists, a statement of support for needle exchange was recently….

Overcoming Guilt in Substance Abuse Treatment

For many addicts and those in recovery, the feelings of guilt and shame that surround their addiction are not only powerful, they are also the motivating factor that either makes or breaks their recovery efforts. When it comes to overcoming guilt, substance abuse treatment is the beginning of a long road that includes counseling and….

Who does what in a cancer treatment program?

Cancer treatments are very complicated. Every treatment largely depends on the type of cancer and its stage and its side effects on the patient. There are various stages involved in the treatment process and therefore there are various professionals and specialists helping the patient, in the treatment process. Given below are some information on who….

Basing treatment on faith

At one time, Randy and Kim Cox had no idea they’d be dedicating their lives to a program like Rivers of Hope Ministries. They were missionaries based in Russia for 10 years before returning to the States, where they spent time both in Randy’s native Texas and Kim’s hometown of Prattville. In Russia, a country….