Preventing Underage Drinking with Community Strategies Alcohol Use

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Young people are at greater risk of alcohol-related harm than adults. As the brain keeps developing into the mid-twenties, drinking alcohol as a teenager can increase the risk of harm to the developing brain. It’s important for parents to understand the reasons their child may experiment with alcohol. You should also know, how it can become an addiction and how to treat that addiction. Even more important is your role in talking with your child about the dangers of underage drinking. Research shows that the earlier a child starts drinking, the greater the likelihood they will abuse alcohol later in life.

• Similarly, if your teen is spending too much time alone, that may be a red flag that they’re having trouble fitting in.
• This can help establish a trusting relationship and reduce the risks.
• You can help by exposing your teen to healthy hobbies and activities, such as team sports, Scouts, and after-school clubs.
• In a recent editorial in The BMJ, a trio of scientists pointed out that there are three periods in life when the brain goes through major changes and is particularly vulnerable to the effects of alcohol.
• You can help by fostering a relationship with your child where they feel that they can be open and honest with you, rather than being immediately disciplined.

But parents who know what their teen is up to and are clear and consistent with their rules can lessen the chances that their teen will drink. If you have problems, though, it’s not only OK, it’s recommended to seek professional help. This is because they’ll be less susceptible to peer pressure due to higher self-esteem, and because they’ll feel like they can talk to you if they ever have questions about alcohol or drinking. The key is to lay out these rules — and the consequences for breaking them — clearly when neither of you are angry. Studies have linked inconsistent discipline and hostility to underage drinking.

• Desperate to fit in and be accepted, kids are much more likely to drink when their friends drink.
• You can feel discouraged when your attempts to communicate are greeted by a sullen roll of the eyes, an incoherent grunt, or the slamming of a door.
• Tell your child to expect peer pressure and encourage them to talk to you when those times occur.
• The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website.

Underage drinking consequences

The teenage years can often be challenging and stressful, and it’s not unusual for people to turn to alcohol as a way of coping with their issues. But whatever difficulties you’re facing at the moment, there is help available and there are healthier, more effective ways of resolving them. Because the adolescent years are a time of development, teens’ bodies are less able to process alcohol. That means they have a tendency to get drunk quicker and stay drunk longer than older drinkers. Attempting to dive straight in to a discussion about drinking may be a quick way to trigger an unpleasant fight.

Long-term drinking above the recommended levels may lead to a range of conditions, collectively known as alcohol-related brain injury (ARBI). Symptoms can include learning and memory challenges, and difficulties with balance. If your teenager is using alcohol or other illicit substances, seek help for them as soon as possible.

Risk factors are things that increase the likelihood that a teen may drink alcohol underage. Some of these are specific to individual families, while others affect whole social groups. To an extent, this is typical for this life stage, as teens begin to enter the world of adulthood and try new things. But in combination with alcohol, which also lowers inhibitions, it can result in impaired judgment. Teen alcohol use may also raise the risk of alcohol use disorder, anxiety, or depression in adulthood. However, because the brain at this age is still developing, it may also recover from some alcohol-induced changes.

NA and Other Peer Support Groups for Drug Addiction

You and your community can take steps to improve everyone’s health and quality of life. People can speak with a doctor, mental health professional, or support organization about themselves or for advice on helping someone else. As such, it is a good idea to have a conversation with teens about alcohol. This can help establish a trusting relationship and reduce the risks. Being aware of these disparities can help adults learn how to address teen alcohol use more effectively, paying particular attention to the most at-risk groups.

The Legal and Health Consequences of Underage Drinking

According to the research, two-sided communication must be matched with authentic behaviour, particularly by parents. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity. But, knowing that your teen will probably be exposed to alcohol, it’s probably more realistic that you set clear boundaries about how they consume it. It may require individual or group counseling, or an inpatient or residential treatment program (where your child stays until they have completed treatment).

It’s natural for teenagers to want to experiment, and drinking alcohol is no exception. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, almost one-third of people between the ages of 12 and 20 report having had at least one drink. Sampling alcohol in a safe, controlled family environment can be a part of growing up, and many states have laws permitting this. However, unsupervised drinking underage can have a long-term impact on a young person’s health and mental well-being. There is concerning evidence from small-scale human brain imaging studies that underage drinking can harm the developing brain.

Increasing the price of alcohol

Damage to this part of the brain before it’s fully developed can lead to learning difficulties, memory problems and impaired problem solving. The longer your teenager delays using alcohol, and the less they drink, the better their brain functioning will be, both now and in later life. It’s important to talk to your child (at every age) about the dangers of alcohol. Teens often take their first alcoholic drink because they get pressured by their friends or peers.

Alcohol can impair brain development

If you suspect your teenager is drinking, try to address the issue with compassion. Ask them if they’re feeling stressed or worried about school, relationships or other issues. Offer them support so they can work through their concerns in a healthier way. Long-term alcohol abuse can increase the risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and can damage the heart, liver and pancreas. Individuals who began drinking when they were underage are more likely to become heavy drinkers when they’re older.

How to talk to your teen about underage drinking

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 21-year-old minimum drinking age laws have reduced alcohol traffic fatalities by 13 percent and have saved an estimated 28,765 lives since 1975. Still, about 1155 persons under 21 die every year in car crashes involving underage drinking. Kids face a huge amount of stress as they navigate the teenage years. Many turn to alcohol to relieve stress, cope with the pressures of school, drug addiction treatment to deal with major life changes, like a move or divorce, or to self-medicate a mental health issue such as anxiety or depression.

Remember that as a parent, your child is much more likely to mimic your actions than listen to your words. No matter how much you preach about the dangers of underage drinking, if you reach for a drink to unwind at the end of a stressful day, your teen may be tempted to follow your example. If you have concerns about your child’s alcohol use, you may want to reevaluate and make changes to your own drinking habits as well. Kids and teens are more likely to binge drink and are more vulnerable to developing a problem with alcohol than adults.