Alcohol affects teens differently than adults

Many parents don’t realize that alcohol impacts a teenager differently than an adult. In fact, alcohol significantly impacts the brain development of growing teens. Alcohol interferes with memory formation and impairs the sensitivity of the brain to critical chemical functions in adolescents more so than it does in adults. By delaying drinking until age 21, your child also reduces the risk of developing a serious alcohol-related problem by 70%. For every year that adolescents delay using alcohol, they decrease the odds of lifelong dependence by 15%, and alcohol abuse by 8%. Delaying your son or daughter’s use of alcohol greatly improves their chances of leading a healthier, happier life both now and in the future.

The potential damage alcohol can do to your teenager: the risks are not limited to drinking and driving.
While the vast majority of Owen County parents are deeply concerned about drinking and driving, it is often too easy to overlook the many other consequences of underage drinking. Alcohol is a powerful drug that slows down the body and the mind. It impairs coordination and slows reaction times. It clouds vision and judgment. Alcohol is detrimental to your child in ways beyond drinking and driving.

Alcohol is
detrimental
to your child in ways
Beyond drinking and driving

the Impact
of alcohol
on your teen

Physical effects:
Alcohol can harm many organs in your teen’s body; The most striking is the effect of alcohol on the function of brain chemistry in adolescents. With as little as one drink, alcohol impairs normal brain chemical function in adolescents significantly more than adults.

Alcohol dependence
Kids who drink before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21. Research has shown that 40% of kids who begin drinking before age 15 will develop alcohol abuse or dependence at some point in their lives, that proportion drops to below 10% for those who begin drinking after age 21.

Unintentional injury and death
Alcohol plays a major role in teenage injuries and fatalities. Alcohol-related traffic accidents are the leading cause of death and disability among teenagers. Alcohol is also a major factor in other leading causes of death and injury to teens in the U.S. including homicide, suicide, burns, drownings and falls.

Emotional and psychological effects
Alcohol impairs judgment. Alcohol has been linked strongly to teenage depression and suicide.

The risky business of underage drinking
There are several social and health consequences which make underage drinking a serious public health problem. Underage drinking contributes to:
• Risky sexual behavior and unintended pregnancies
• Sexually transmitted diseases such as genital herpes and AIDS
• Academic failure and dropping out of school
• Criminal behavior — perpetrating rape, assault, robbery, murder and other violent crimes
• Becoming the victim of rape, assault, robbery, murder and other violent crimes