According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, alcohol is the top substance abused by teens, with potentially devastating long-term results. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports in its 2007 "Alcohol Alert" that by senior year in high school, more than 70 percent of youth have tried alcohol. Alcohol-related problems can start at an early age and recognizing symptoms of teen alcohol abuse is important for prevention and treatment.
Physical Symptoms
When alcohol abuse becomes a factor in a teen's life, there are some significant physical symptoms that may be displayed. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) indicates that observable fatigue and glassy or red, watery eyes are a typical symptom of alcohol use. Teens may also display changes in sleep patterns and eating habits when alcohol is being abused. Weight gain can occur, depending on the frequency of abuse. Staggered walking, poor motor coordination and shaking hands are also signs of teen alcohol abuse. Teens abusing alcohol may also neglect their hygiene or exude an odor of alcohol. The Mayo Clinic recommends talking to your teen if these symptoms are present.
Emotional Symptoms
Personality changes and emotional disturbance may be another sign of teen alcohol abuse. Teens are generally moody and irritable due to hormone changes during development. However, there are marked differences between normal emotional fluctuations and alcohol-induced instability. The AACAP reports that an alcohol-abusing teen may show increased depression, lack of interest in normally pleasurable activity and low self-esteem. Additionally, the teen may become overly argumentative and destructive due to the chemical changes that alcohol abuse causes in the teen's body.
Social Changes
It is common for a teen to lose interest in school on occasion. If alcohol abuse is an issue, there might be a drop in grades, or the teen might refuse to attend school or make uncharacteristic statements about education being pointless. Additionally, teens may change peer groups to fit in with a set of peers that condone drinking. The Mayo Clinic further indicates that teens who abuse alcohol are prone to engaging in reckless activity such as unprotected sexual behaviors, which may lead to sexually transmitted diseases. Suspension from school due to refusal to attend or acting out in class, as well as a disinterest in sports or extracurricular activities that were once pleasurable, are also potential signs of teen alcohol abuse.
