Statistics compiled by SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) in 2005 showed that more than 10 million persons between the ages of 12 and 20 had drank alcohol within the previous month. Of those 10 million, more than 7 million were binge drinkers, while more than 2 million were heavy drinkers. Regardless of the cause for their drinking habits, serious consequences can ensue.
Vehicle and Other Accidents
The Mayo Clinic states that the leading cause of death among teens is alcohol-related traffic accidents. In 2005 alone, 7,460 teens died as a result of alcohol. This includes both drivers and passengers. Other deaths can occur as a result of alcohol as well. These include drownings, murders and suicides, all of which are linked to alcohol, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Effects on Hormones
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) states that drinking alcohol during puberty, the time in a teen's life when a number of hormonal changes are taking place, may upset the balance of these hormones.
The hormones affected include the sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone, which have an impact on the production of other hormones needed for organ development. When this hormonal balance is upset, it may impede the normal development of muscles and bones as well as the organs.
Sexual Activity
Teens who drink have a tendency to become sexually active sooner than teens who do not drink. They also appear to have sex on a more frequent basis. In addition, the alcohol affects a teens' inhibitions, increasing the likelihood that teens who are sexually active do so without using protection. SADD states that more than 33 percent of high school students report they are currently sexually active. Of those 33 percent, more than 23 percent admitted to using alcohol or drugs prior to the last instance of intercourse.
Dependence
Adults who drink before the age of 21 are more likely to become dependent than adults who wait until the age of 21 to take their first drink, according to SADD. The Mayo Clinic states that those who begin drinking in their younger teen years are four times more likely to develop an alcohol dependence than those who wait until they are of legal age to drink.
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