Alcohol

Teens and Drinking
Even though alcohol is illegal to buy or possess if you are under age 21 in the United States, it is the most frequently abused drug by young people.
Alcohol-related crashes are the second leading cause of teen death. And alcohol use is often linked with teen deaths by drowning, fires, suicide and homicide. It is important to get the facts right. One 12-oz. beer has as much alcohol as a 1.5-oz. shot of whiskey or a 5-oz. glass of wine. Wine coolers look like juice sparklers, but they have just as much alcohol as a 12-oz. beer. One glass of clear malt can give a teenager a .02 on a breathalyzer test. In some states, that amount is enough for anyone under the age of 21 to lose their driver's license and be subject to a fine.
Have you Ever had a Drink?
Many teens will answer "yes" when asked that question. In fact, most people had their first drink around the age of 13, even though the legal drinking age is 21 just about everywhere in the United States. Nearly 10 million American teens are drinking alcohol sometime this week.
The Facts
Alcohol is really a natural product that is created by the process of fermentation. Fermentation is what occurs when yeast and the sugar from vegetables and grains change the sugar (in the vegetables and grains) into alcohol. Sounds innocent enough, doesn't it? But when you drink this natural product called alcohol, it is absorbed into your bloodstream, where it affects the central nervous system. The central nervous system is the control center for your whole body. Alcohol acts to slow down this control center. Since alcohol has a sedative effect, small amounts can reduce anxiety. Alcohol tends to block some of the commands the brain is sending to various parts of the body, and so it alters your senses. The more you drink, the more your senses are altered. The result--we've all seen people who have consumed too much alcohol. They have difficulty walking, talking and even hearing; many will have "blackouts" and not remember what they did or said. Alcohol can even be lethal if one drinks an enormous amount.
If you are a drinker of alcohol, can you remember how you first got started? Many teens start drinking because their families drink. The glass of wine that dad may drink after dinner seems innocent enough. Advertisers portray drinking as "cool." Everyone in those ads seems to be having a good time. These ads seduce many teens to try alcohol. Teens may find alcohol to be relaxing, but there are many reasons they should not drink.
If you're in your early teens, your body is simply not ready to handle alcohol metabolically. And instead of acting cool, one who has been drinking often acts like a fool. If you get really drunk, you're almost certainly guaranteed a hangover--pounding headache, intense thirst, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, blurry vision, shakiness, exhaustion and more.
Teens who drink generally do not do well in school. They are more likely to engage in sexual activity while under the influence of alcohol. Safe sex is too often forgotten while under the influence of alcohol, and a pregnant teenager with an STD is often the result. So drinking will not help you get away from your problems, as many teens think--it will only add to them. Teens who drink are more likely to get into fights and commit other crimes, which leads to problems with the law. Teens who drink are more likely to be involved in car accidents, and even commit crimes. These are facts that we can state based on studies of drinking and teenager behavior. Long-time drinkers can look forward to liver, heart and brain problems.
How Can Teens Avoid Drinking?
With alcohol so prevalent, how can you avoid it? After all, you want to fit in with the crowd and be liked by your friends, and many of them will be drinking. You can always say your parents have caught you drinking, and to get caught again would result in getting "grounded." But it is best to be honest with your friends. Tell them you don't like to drink because it changes the way your feel or your personality. Your real friends will understand and may even respect you for that. Try to plan ahead to avoid gatherings where you know alcohol is going to be served.
Help is Available
For teenagers who realize they have a problem with alcohol, help is available. Of course a teen must first admit that they have a drinking problem if they are going to get help. Does alcohol change your personality? Do you think about drinking a lot during the day? Do you start your day with a drink? Has drinking interfered with your relationships with friends or parents? These are questions you might want to think about. If you think you might be drinking too much or too often, you can tell your healthcare provider or school counselor who can refer you to a drug and alcohol counselor. All this is totally confidential.
Getting help could involve a brief stay at a rehabilitation center, or even done on an outpatient basis. So tell the people you trust about your problem with drinking and you will get help. There are even Alcoholics Anonymous groups just for teenagers (Alateen). Find a local AA meeting place in your area and ask if they have a group for teens. You will have to work very hard to kick this addiction. It won't be easy, but it will definitely be worth it.