5 Warning Signs of Teen Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol overdose, called “alcohol poisoning,” is a potentially deadly, very serious consequence of drinking large quantities of alcohol in a relatively short period of time. If you suspect that you or someone you love has alcohol poisoning – this is a medical emergency. Understanding the signs, symptoms and side effects of alcohol addiction is a key component toward starting the recovery journey. In addition, the risk of drinking among underage people increases as they get older. And it’s one thing to say, promote the healthy friendships, discourage the ones that seem to be pulling your child in more problematic directions, but we all know that except perhaps in extreme circumstances, this is highly problematic for most parents. In another study they found that the serotonin function may be related to a tendency to become impulsive in the face of negative emotion, a trait called negative urgency.

In addition, the decrease in underage drinking rates has stalled since 2015. Overall, as of the most recent data available about underage drinking statistics in 2017, 19.7% of all underage people aged 12 to 20 reported drinking in the past 30 days. Among children aged 12 to 17, nearly 10% have used alcohol in the past month.

School Performance and Peer Relationships

Risk-Taking—Research
shows the brain keeps developing well into the twenties, during which time it
continues to establish important communication connections and further refines
its function. Scientists believe that this lengthy developmental period may help
explain some of the behavior which is characteristic of adolescence—such
as their propensity to seek out new and potentially dangerous situations. For
some teens, thrill-seeking might include experimenting with alcohol. Developmental
changes also offer a possible physiological explanation for why teens act so impulsively,
often not recognizing that their actions—such as drinking—have consequences.

• Beliefs about alcohol are
  established very early in life, even before the child begins elementary school
  (15).
• Instead, talk to your teen about the effects drinking can have on their appearance—bad breath, bad skin, and weight gain from all the empty calories and carbs.
• In addition, the decrease in underage drinking rates has stalled since 2015.
• You’ve noted the steep drop-off in their schoolwork, abrupt changes in their behavior, and the loss of interest in their former hobbies and interests.

Other signs are more blatant, such as empty alcohol bottles hidden in their room. One of the most telling signs of teenage alcohol abuse is a direct link between drinking and a teen’s emotional state. For example, they may turn to alcohol to suppress feelings of anger or relieve feelings of sadness. Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, is a negative pattern of alcohol use leading to a wide range of life problems.

Underage Drinking and Teen Alcohol Use

The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The study’s authors included Rebecca Evans-Polce, Brooke Arterberry and Yvonne Terry-McElrath. If you suspect someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately. If you do not have access to a phone contact Web Poison Control Services for online assistance.

According to the 2021 Monitoring the Future Panel Study,  alcohol consumption among college students has been level in recent years for the most part. In 2020, alcohol prevalence rates of 30-day use, 30-day been drunk, and binge drinking declined significantly in the early stages of the pandemic, but have rebounded from these historic lows in 2021. Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by teens in the United States. Approximately half of junior high and high school students drink alcohol on a monthly basis; 14% report that they have been intoxicated at least once in the previous year.

Teenage Drinking & Alcoholism Statistics

Teens’ bodies are less able to process alcohol so they have a tendency to get drunk quicker and stay drunk longer than older drinkers. And since underage drinkers haven’t yet learned their limits with alcohol, they’re at far greater risk of drinking more than their bodies https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/teenage-alcoholism-dangers-of-underage-drinking/ can handle, resulting in an alcohol overdose or alcohol poisoning when they binge drink. Mixing drinks, doing shots, playing drinking games, and natural teenage impulsiveness can all contribute to binge drinking and increase a young person’s risk for alcohol poisoning.

• Peer disapproval of binge drinking remains high among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, with a significant increase noted among high school seniors.
• Learn the truth about addiction and how to successfully address it in adolescents.
• It can be extremely distressing as a parent to witness the after-effects of your teen’s binge drinking.

Investigating these common genetic risk factors might help us understand the connections. But bear in mind that there are no simple cause-and-effect stories here. Hence, inpatient or residential treatment for teen alcoholism is often necessary for sustainable recovery.

Overall, the prognosis for alcoholism can be positive with early intervention, effective treatment, and ongoing support. It is important for individuals with alcoholism to seek help and work with healthcare professionals and loved ones to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets their unique needs and goals. Teenagers who misuse alcohol may struggle more with drinking problems in their 20s and 30s, be in poorer health and feel less satisfied with their lives, according to a study led by Rutgers and Virginia Commonwealth University.

The second stage of alcohol and other drug use ranges from experimentation or occasional use to regular weekly use of alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, or other drugs. The third stage involves a youth further increasing the frequency of alcohol use and/or using alcohol and other drugs on a regular basis. This stage may also include the teenager buying alcohol or other drugs or stealing to get their drug of choice.

What to do if your child develops alcohol poisoning

As Rose and colleagues (43) show, genetic
factors appear to have more influence on adolescent drinking behavior in late
adolescence than in mid-adolescence. Either directly or indirectly, we all feel the effects of the aggressive behavior, property damage, injuries, violence, and deaths that can result from underage drinking. This is not simply a problem for some families—it is a nationwide concern. This can lead to behavior problems and lasting damage to memory, thinking, and judgment.

Overall, the prevalence of college drinking over the past 30 years, measured as lifetime, annual, and past 30-day consumption rates continue to trend downward. Since 1991, lifetime consumption among college students has declined 15% proportionately, while annual consumption and monthly consumption are down 13% and 20%, respectively. Low GABA levels could be one reason why adults and adolescents react to alcohol effects in such different ways.

Drinking alcohol in excess, especially at a young age, is extremely dangerous because it alters brain chemistry and makes it difficult for the body and mind to develop in a healthy manner. Teen substance abuse treatment can be instrumental in preventing lifelong addiction. Parents and teachers can have a huge impact, negatively or positively, on a young person’s view of alcohol. Having open, honest lines of communication can play a huge role preventing underage alcoholism. Parents can talk with their children about the dangers of drinking at a young age.

Children as young as 9 years old may become curious about drinking and they may even try alcohol. Your child may have just started high school or just gotten a driver’s license. About one-third of high school seniors in the United States have had an alcoholic drink within the past month. Teens who have progressed to the more advanced stages of alcoholism are typically treated intensively, using a combination of the medical, individual, and familial interventions already described. Adolescents, including 16-year-olds, are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol due to their developing brains and bodies.