Alcoholism affects many youths from the time they are children to adulthood. The effects of alcoholism may surround them in the nurturing years if frequent drinking becomes prominent in family life. Exposure to alcoholism may make them more prone to underage drinking as they enter adolescence. About 11 million American youths under age 21 drink alcohol, according to the American Medical Association. Nearly half of them drink alcohol to excess, the AMA states.
Family Influence
Young people brought up in homes affected by alcoholism often experience unpredictable behavior by their parents and a lack of communication with their parents, according to the Phoenix House Center on Addiction and the Family. The negative environment of living with alcoholism can steer youths to underage drinking and alcohol abuse or alcoholism. Children have difficulties understanding an alcoholic parent's behavior, which can frequently swing from loving to disinterested to abusive. They often have limited social lives because of parental drinking. They try to avoid bringing friends home or fear being seen with their parents in public, attempting to hide the truth. The isolation and loneliness can lead to lack of basic social skills and poor school performance.
Mental Disorders
Children in alcoholic homes often live in fear. They may grow up blaming themselves for the parent's drinking and the family's problems. They may witness violent acts or become victims of physical violence or incest. Youths can become withdrawn from social contact or develop violent tendencies. The domestic violence and conflicts they experience during their growing years can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression. These mental health conditions can compound an alcohol problem and increase the risk of suicide for many youths.
Health Hazards
Underage drinking plays a role in nearly half of all motor vehicle accidents for teens, according to the American Medical Association. Automobile crashes have become the leading cause of death among teens. Alcohol use increases the likelihood of sexual assault on women in late adolescence and early adulthood by male acquaintances, according to TeenDrugAbuse.us. Drinking on the part of the offender or the victim can play a role in sexual assault. Adolescent drinking also increases the chance young people will engage in high-risk sex, including having unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners. The risky behaviors often lead to unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Alcohol impairs judgment and youths become particularly affected when it comes to their choices in having unsafe sex. Binge drinking, a popular activity for many college students, has caused deaths from alcohol poisoning for some youths.
