Alcohol harms the brain in teen years before and after that, too

Teenage alcoholism is a tragically common problem that results in thousands of deaths every year. The younger a person begins drinking, the more likely they are to be affected by alcoholism later in life. Overall, the prognosis for alcoholism can be positive with early intervention, effective treatment, and ongoing support. It is important for individuals with alcoholism to seek help and work with healthcare professionals and loved ones to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets their unique needs and goals.

In turn, this can lead to dangerous behavior, such as taking other substances or driving while drunk. If your child is engaging in underage drinking, online mental health counseling might be an effective treatment method for them. The licensed mental health professionals at TeenCounseling can provide counseling completely online, which may be helpful if your teenager is nervous about going to a therapist’s office.

Binge drinking is defined as drinking so much within a short space of time (about two hours) that blood alcohol levels reach the legal limit of intoxication. For kids and teens, that usually means having three or more drinks at one sitting. Young people who binge drink are more likely to miss classes at school, fall behind with their schoolwork, damage property, sustain an injury, or become victims of assault.

• Seeking help for addiction may feel daunting or even scary, but several organizations can provide support.
• This allows for continuous medical supervision of health professionals and access to various therapies.
• These legal consequences impact the individual directly and have long-lasting implications on their future educational and employment opportunities.
• Group home living, such as halfway houses, is the leastintensive inpatient treatment setting.
• Thefrequency of contact is adjusted to meet the specific needs of thepresenting individual.
• Alcohol advertising also focuses on positive experiences with alcohol, selling their brands as desirable lifestyle choices.
• Treatment services provided tochildren of alcoholics and other drug users may be distinctlydifferent from treatment services provided to those who do not havea situation in which other family members abuse and are dependent onsubstances.

Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information. This talk may be a challenging but necessary first step in getting your teen the help they need.

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• Seventy-four percent of current underage drinkers said they did not pay for the alcohol they consumed the last time they drank.
• According to theresearch, 14% ofhigh school studentsare active binge drinkers.
• When someone drinks frequently, their body becomes dependent on alcohol.
• If you suspect that a teenager is struggling with alcohol abuse, it’s essential to seek help from professionals who specialize in adolescent substance abuse such as we offer at Clearfork Academy.
• Family support, coupled with professional guidance, can offer the best chance for recovery and help the teen navigate back to a healthier path.

Regardless of the causes, the sooner the problem is identified, the earlier a teen can begin treatment to Twelve-step program address both the symptoms and the underlying causes of alcoholism. “I think there’s this very little public appetite for a drinking age of 25,” says James MacKillop, who studies addictive behaviour at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. “High minimum legal ages are perceived as paternalistic, and they can be seen as hypocritical if the legal age of majority for voting, or the legal age to serve in the military, is 18 or 19.”

• Therapeutic activities, group sessions, and individual counseling play pivotal roles in addressing the psychological and emotional aspects of addiction.
• In all too many cases, they wake up in the hospital after a car accident — or don’t wake up at all — and seriously injure unsuspecting passengers, people in other cars or pedestrians.
• Underage drinking happens when someone under the legal drinking age consumes alcohol.

What Are Some Reasons to Not Drink?

Families must create a safe space for teens to express their feelings, concerns, and successes. Active listening is imperative, as it builds trust and reinforces the idea that their voice matters. Group therapy sessions allow teens to share experiences, build community, and learn from one another.

But the science suggests that this approach may be likely to backfire. It’s often best to avoid berating or shaming your child for alcohol use. These tactics may drive a wedge between you, which can be counterproductive — parental warmth and the quality of the parent-child relationship appear to be important for preventing underage drinking. Being vigilant and maintaining open communication is crucial for early detection and intervention to address potential issues related to teen alcoholism. Breaking through denial is a crucial step in facilitating recovery and fostering a more realistic understanding of the consequences of alcohol abuse. Austin’s longtime passion is Clearfork Academy, a christ-centered residential facility focused on mental health and substance abuse.

Teen Alcohol Abuse

“The more impulsive kids tend to drink more, and then drinking causes more impulsivity,” says Squeglia. Overall substance use among teens in 2024 remained below the pre-pandemic levels reported in 2020. Underage binge drinking (defined as having five or more drinks in a row in the past two weeks) continued to its long-term decline reaching record low levels. Among 8th, 10th and 12th graders combined binge drinking declined, with only one in 20 reporting they have engaged in this level of harmful consumption. Binge drinking has declined 53 percent proportionally from 2015 to 2024 and 75 percent since 1991.

Alcoholism Mood Swings and Emotional Red Flags

Also, the same support is available for parents of teenagers at BetterHelp, which also offers counseling online. Online therapy has been suggested by research to be just as effective as in-person therapy in many cases, and you can be matched with a counselor with experience helping parents of children with alcohol-related concerns. The first stage in the treatment of alcoholism is typically detoxification, where individuals undergo a medically supervised process to rid their bodies of alcohol. This phase addresses withdrawal symptoms and helps stabilize the person physically. Family members must model positive behaviors and engage in activities that promote overall well-being. Constructive feedback and positive reinforcement contribute to the teenager’s sense of accomplishment and motivation.

Alcohol is often glamorized in movies, TV shows, and advertising, portraying drinking as a desirable or harmless activity.

What is underage drinking?

It may be that their new friends are encouraging this negative behavior. In the United States, alcohol use has gradually declined among high school students in the past few decades. However, it is still the most common drug people under 21 use, and around 4,000 people under the age of 21 die as a result of excessive drinking each year. As a result, teen drinking can potentially lead to other risk-taking behaviors, such as drinking and driving, injury, or unsafe sex. On the other hand, excessive stress or worry about academics could prompt some students to engage in risky behaviors like alcohol use as a form of stress release. And influence from their peer groups might push some teens to drink who otherwise wouldn’t.

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol due to their developing brains and bodies. Either directly or indirectly, we all feel the effects of the aggressive behavior, property damage, injuries, violence, and deaths that can result from underage drinking. This is not simply a problem for some families—it is a nationwide concern. Today, many teens are trapped in alcohol addiction, requiring comprehensive treatment and unwavering support.