Every day, about 8,000 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 try alcohol, according to the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation. You'll come across alcohol more often than illegal drugs because it's easier for your friends to get. While many adults can drink alcohol without problems, drinking when you're young is more likely to lead to addiction, problems at school and diseases.
Significance
As you get older, it'll be harder to avoid the temptation of alcohol. You've already seen many of your favorite TV characters drinking alcohol. The average TV program shows people drinking three times per episode, according to North Dakota State University. Your friends, however, also will be likely to try alcohol. When you reach the eighth grade, one out three of your classmates will have tried alcohol, and by the time you become a high school senior, nearly three out of four of your classmates will have had their first sip, according to the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Effects
You might be confused as to why you shouldn't drink alcohol when you see other adults, perhaps even your parents, enjoying occasional drinks. Alcohol has different effects on kids than adults. Your brain is still developing as you grow, and drinking too much could cause problems with how well your brain works when you get older, according to the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation. You're also still developing your abilities of self-control, so you're more likely to become addicted if you drink when you're young. If you drink before you turn 15, you're five times more likely to have alcohol abuse problems as an adult than if you wait until you turn 21, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Symptoms
If you think one of your friends has a problem with alcohol, you can watch for some of the signs of alcohol abuse. Your friend might suddenly seem to have less energy or not be as good as sports as before. He might have bloodshot eyes and forget things more often. Her grades might start to drop, and she might start hanging around new friends that she doesn't want you or her family to meet. If you start to notice these changes, you should alert a parent or trusted teacher so your friend can get help.
Potential
Abusing alcohol will disrupt all aspects of your life. It's linked to violent behavior, poor performance in school and ultimately to problems such as depression and suicide. If you abuse alcohol, you're five times more likely to drop out of high school. It also puts you at a greater risk of being hurt or killed in an accident, particularly if you get into a car driven by someone who's been drinking. About 10,000 children and teenagers die each year in automobile accidents related to alcohol, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology.
Prevention
Support from your parents, family and friends is your best defense against alcohol abuse problems. Talk to your parents about alcohol abuse, and teachers or a school counselor can answer any questions they can't answer. You and your family can make an agreement that if you're with friends who start to drink alcohol, you can call them to come pick you up without punishment. While you should get help for friends who have problems with alcohol, you should pick friends carefully who can have fun without alcohol.
References
- North Dakota State University: Talking With Young Children About Alcohol
- U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse: High School and Youth Trends
- Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation: Underage Drinking as a Natural Priority
- U.S Department of Health and Human Services: Facts About Alcohol at Family Guide
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology: Teens: Alcohol and Other Drugs
