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| Health Effects of Teen Alcohol Use |  Many studies deal with the health effects of short-term and long-term use of alcohol among teenagers. Long-term use of alcohol carries risk of such diseases as pancreatitis, liver damage, literal shrinkage of the brain, cancer of the mouth, larynx, esophagus and liver, malnutrition, stomach irritation, and irreversible brain and nervous system damage. Do you know that alcohol use is the second leading cause of dementia? Today professionals are worried about a steady increase in teen alcohol abuse and the possible negative health effects a lot. On the average, the life of a heavy drinker is shorter about in 11 years, than the life of a person that doesn’t depend on alcohol.
Adolescence is a transition time when young body is undergoing many essential changes, including brain development and hormonal alterations. Adolescence is associated with predominant role of friends. Teenagers feel increased pressure to “fit in” or “go along with a crowd” in order to be accepted socially. These circumstances are confusing and difficult for teens to understand and deal with. Alcohol use during this period interrupts key processes of brain development, and this may lead to the appearance of serious mental and physical diseases.
Alcohol is absorbed very quickly into the blood stream from the stomach in about 10 minutes and its effects last for several hours. Girls absorb alcohol faster than boys because their bodies contain less water. After 2-3 normal strength beers or 4-5 standard glasses of wine most people feel more relaxed and less inhibited. Some more alcohol leads to indistinct speech, clumsiness and lack of coordination. Some people have increased emotional reactions. More alcohol, as a rule, result in double vision, loss of balance, giddiness, nausea, and vomiting.
Study reports that alcohol-induced adolescent could affect academic and professional achievements. The alcohol-dependent teenagers have greater difficulties in remembering of words and simple geometric designs after a 10-minutes interval. Memory problems are most common among youth in treatment who had experienced in alcohol abuse. Early alcohol use may have long lasting consequences. Children who begin drinking before age of 15 are 4 times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who have their first drink at age of 20 or older. Environmental factors of teen drinking include alcoholic families, where teens have open access to alcohol drinks in the home, and also lack of parental monitoring.
Teen alcohol abuse poses a high risk to both the individual and society.
Drinking and Driving
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers. The rate of lethal crashes among drunken drivers between 16 and 20 years old is in two times more than the rate for drunken drivers of 21 years old.
Sexual Assault
Drunken teenagers tend to commit sexual assaults, including rape, usually within the context of a date. Approximately 10% of high school girls have been raped. Alcohol use by the offender or/and victim increase the possibility of sexual assault by a male acquaintance.
Suicide
Alcohol use intensifies depression and stress, and later may lead to suicide. It is the third leading cause of death among young people between 14 and 25 years old.
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