Drugs and alcohol may cause short-term memory problems in teenagers; however, in some cases, amnesia may also stem from a traumatic incident or the loss of a family member. Memory usually comes back over a period of time but the event that caused the memory loss may be stored away in some part of the brain, never to be remembered again. Memory loss is not just limited to teenagers and can affect everyone at any stage of their lives.
Short-Term Memory Loss
Children First describes short-term memory loss as a condition where the individual loses sense of current events and information, such as having no memory of events that occurred in the last four to five hours or days.
Substance Abuse
In 2008, Fox News conducted an in depth study on the relationship between binge drinking and short-term memory loss in teenagers. Scientists who conducted this research found that the memory loss in students ages 17 to 19 due to binge drinking could be permanent or long lasting, and binge drinking was related to some kind of memory loss across all age groups. Substance abuse also has a marked impact on future memory, which is used to remember events such as a shopping list or visiting someone. Amphetamines can also lead to a severe memory loss, as indicated by the date rape drugs.
Trauma
Traumatic injuries or events are also a leading cause of short-term memory loss in teenagers and adults alike. These could result from blunt force injury to the head; however, the degree of force and the part of the head affected will directly determine the extent of memory loss. Events that have caused a lot of stress can also be erased permanently.
Teenagers
Memory loss can affect anyone but it is more pronounced in teenagers because the brain is still developing. Because of this, it is possible that further development could become impaired or severely affected, especially in cases where the memory loss is caused by drugs and excessive drinking. It is a common human defense mechanism to block traumatic events but this is more pronounced in teenagers.
Considerations
If someone you know has a sudden memory loss, make sure you take them to a doctor for a correct diagnosis. In most cases, the memory will come back but only a doctor can determine the extent of brain injury, if any. In some cases, your doctor may use mnemonics. Mnemonics includes three principles including imagination, association and location to help the individual regain his memory.
