Teenage Binge Drinking
What You Can Do About Teenage Binge Drinking
Teenage binge drinking has been in the news a lot lately.
Just about every major newspaper and current affairs program has covered it.
It seems to be increasing and becoming normal entertainment for teens to binge drink with their friends.
A majority of people don't see alcohol as a drug.
They may be very concerned and frightened for their children when it comes to marijuana or illegal drugs, but take a fairly liberal view on alcohol.
After all,
- Its usage is widespread in our communities.
- Alcohol is often part of the way we socialize.
- It is advertised widely.
- And manufacturers even sponsor our sporting teams and major sporting and cultural events.
Not bad for a drug.
Can you imagine if your football team was sponsored by cocaine? Not funny is it.
It's important to realize how normal alcohol can appear to teens, how difficult it can be for them to avoid, and how dangerous it can be.
Alcohol and the Teenage Brain
You may remember in
Parenting Teens we talked about the fact that the teenage brain is still developing.
Teen brains are even more vulnerable to damage than an adult brain.
And because the risk assessment part of the brain is still not mature, it is clear that parents need to be the ones to set the boundaries and limits on alcohol consumption.
Alcohol is a Poison
As with all drugs it is the side effects of the body being poisoned that we experience as pleasurable, relaxing or exciting.
As with all poison, have too much and it will kill you. Alcohol is a neurotoxin which means it targets the brain.
Long term abuse can cause learning problems, memory loss and problems with movement and balance. These are irreversible. It can also affect the liver, and other internal organs.
Teenage binge drinking can have life long consquences.
Teenagers Drinking Alcohol is Related to Unsafe Behavior
Alcohol interferes with the ability to make good decisions about health and safety.
Some problems are:
Drinking Too Much
Binge drinking is described as a style of drinking where a large amount of alcohol is consumed in a single drinking session.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia describes this as more than 7 standard drinks for an adult male, and more than 5 standard drinks for an adult female.
Just remember, we are talking about teens here, not adults, so even less would need to be consumed to cause damage.
According to news reports, teenage binge drinking is on the rise. This is truly worrying for the long term health of our kids.
The only really safe amount for a teenager is no alcohol at all.
Drink driving
Driving drunk or getting into a car with a drunk driver is a major concern.
Alcohol is responsible for a significant number of deaths and injuries in road accidents every year. And this is besides the fact that it is illegal to drive a car when you are over the legal limit.
Sex
Having unplanned and unsafe sex occurs more often when teens drink. Teenage binge drinking also puts them at an increased risk of:
- Having sex without a condom
- Getting an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease)
- Becoming pregnant
- Being raped
Risky or Violent Behavior
Alcohol changes teen behavior, or anyone's behavior for that matter. It may make you feel more outgoing and sociable, but it is also responsible for:
- Fighting and violent outbursts
- Falls
- Drowning
- Being arrested
Why Do Teenagers Take Drugs?
Understand the motivation and the attraction for teens and drugs.
You can help them make better choices for themselves if you know what you are up against.
Read more here...
Build Your Teen's Resilience to Peer Pressure, Drugs and Alcohol
There's no way you can block out all the dangerous things in life and control your teen's every move, and really, you wouldn't want to.
Instead, give them the tools they need to make good decisions for themselves and to know when their peers are doing things that aren't safe.
Read more here...
Talking to Teens
Maybe the real point in talking to teenagers is to learn how to listen.
With our greater wisdom and experience it's easy to jump in and give advice or a lecture.
Communication between you and your teenager is of enormous importance. Take the time to get it right.
Read more here...
Return from Teenage Binge Drinking to Teenagers Drinking
Return from Teenage Binge Drinking to Better Living Ideas
|
