Alcohol: Underage Drinkers

Unfortunately this will be the last bad habit I will be covering for my blog (sniff sniff). But don’t worry guys! I promise to end with a bang! 

This specific habit will be one that teenagers AND adults will be able to relate to. With that said, as I am a teenager, I will only be covering the teenage side of it today (but that doesn’t mean adults can't benefit as well). It is a habit that can severely affect our health, but that doesn't stop people from abusing and overusing it every day. I realize I am writing a long and redundant introduction to this habit, but as I am currently reading Hamlet, I am feeling rather inspired by a certain character, Polonius (one would have had to have read Hamlet to get the joke). 

ANYWAYS!

This habit is.... (drum roll please)...... 

UNDERAGED DRINKING!

As this is the last habit, I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It is the cause of 5,000 deaths (approximately) of people under the age of 21 every year. These numbers are so high because these deaths are caused by car accidents, homicides, suicides as well as other injuries or health problems that are caused by alcohol abuse.¹ This habit goes all the way down to affecting 2 in every 5 eighth graders and it is one of the drugs most often used by 12-17 year olds.² Scary huh? I find it crazy that such young kids use alcohol. What is even scarier is that this is basically the norm for a lot of people.

I understand that teenagers go to parties and are subjected to alcohol. Heck, I’m a teenager and I’ve been put in these situations too. And I’d be a hypocrite if I said I haven’t tried a drink once or twice, but I hate the taste and I just don’t see the fun in it. I believe that there is a time and place to start drinking and it's just not acceptable for kids. 

While drinking, individuals are only aware of the high they are getting and I don’t believe they are fully aware of the damage they are doing to their bodies and their brains. Just as with all other dangerous habits, it is something people do to feel better. It is the perfect anti-depressant because it totally numbs the brain and the emotions. Of course people are going to abuse it, because it is one of the most sure fire ways to end that 'sucky' feeling fast. But what teenagers DON’T realize is the harm UNDERAGE drinking does. That’s right, I said underage, not legal drinking. There is a clear distinction between the two. Ever wonder WHY they put an age limit on consumption of alcohol? Let’s explore this shall we.

It is said that the human brain continues to develop well into our early twenties and that early exposure to alcohol can lead to permanent intellectual damage in the future.³ When exposing the brain to alcoholic substances before this age, ( in the U.S. the age limit is 21), it can “interrupt key processes of brain development”³ which can lead to brain damage. It can also cause learning disabilities.³ (See more about how it affects the brain and why)

Isn't this enough to convince you not to abuse alcohol in your early teenage years? I should hope so.

This makes me wonder: is it really worth the risk?  I’d say, we should all think about it like this: if there is something going on in a persons life that is impossible to deal with, then yes alcohol will give that person temporary relief from the pain. If you honestly believe that you cannot have fun without drinking, fine. But what happens in the future? As a young adult you could potentially be looking at learning disabilities and even brain damage (as I previously concluded). This damage was caused by alcohol and more alcohol will not make it go away. It’s permanent. Do you really want to risk your future for a few wild nights as a teenager? Can't this wait until you're an adult and you don't risk nearly as much? I think this is something that needs to be considered, because I am almost positive teenagers don’t think these choices through, especially when they just want to have fun. 

Now let’s be clear on something before I continue. I certainly can't judge anyone if they want to drink at parties, and if this is your life style that's your choice. I just want people to understand what could happen if this habit persists into something more addictive and dangerous to your health (if TOO much alcohol is consumed in short periods of time in the early teenage years). It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Up until now, all I have really clarified is that teens either drink to have a fun time or because they don’t want to feel certain emotions. Now, let's briefly look at the facts.

79% of adolescences in today’s society say the following: they either drink to get drunk or to “feel good”². Another 67% say that they do it because it makes them “forget their problems”. Finally, 66% will say it is actually caused by peer pressure and 47% do it because they are bored and don’t know what else to do.²(Click here to read about more reasons why teenagers consume alcohol) I find these numbers depressing. I also find it hard to believe that teenagers have “nothing better to do”². There is plenty to do, they just want to do it under the influence of something that gives them more of a high. I've been to parties where I hear teenagers complain when there is no alcohol and that without it they can’t have any fun. Is this REALLY what our world has come to? That teenagers can’t have fun at a party without getting drunk? I just find it a little difficult to take in. 

As well as the risks that come with drinking alcohol, underage drinking can also have other effects on a teenagers life. It can lead to “early sexual intercourse, date and acquaintance rapes, unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, fights and community property damage”², as well as possible death from alcohol poisoning.² It can also lead to other more dangerous drug abuse addictions such as cocaine and marijuana.¹

What I’m seeing is not only the long term effects of underage drinking, but also the constant need for the substance when the person is an adult. How could an individual possibly deal with any situation when they feel like they need to constantly have alcohol to feel better. It will most likely become a very serious addiction that will lead to many health issues and risks. I feel like it will also cause the individual to withdraw from their family and friends and become very antisocial and alone. This will cause a snowball effect that can only lead to a very dark future.

If you are a teen that has overused and abused alcohol and you want to stop but don’t know how, there are many ways to get help. Don’t be afraid to do so. As with many habits, therapy is always a good way to start, because then you will not have to do it alone. But if you are not that kind of person, there are many other ways that you can get help. 

Unfortunately, I could talk about this habit for a long time, because it is a very big problem among teenagers today. But I am going to have to end it here. I have provided links on this habit throughout the post that I strongly recommend you all read. There is so much about this habit that is still unknown. It is a major bad habit that I think needs to be recognized and no longer ignored. It brings me back to my earlier question of: ever wonder why there’s an age limit to drinking? I’d like all my readers to think about this question. Not only for alcohol consumption but for anything that has a law enforced upon it. These laws are imposed for a reason. It is for our safety and we don’t always realize that. Laws are not made to be broken as a lot of people would say. 

Please, think about it.

Thanks for sticking around!

8 down, none to go.

BANG!

¹http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA67/AA67.htm

²http://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/teenage-health/teens-and-substance-abuse.htm

³http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/HealthIssues/1127400726.html#.UpQcmJGhNJ0