Alcohol
Alcohol is a substance many adolescents and teens will experiment with or come into contact with before they graduate.
As a role model, take time to talk with the young people in your life about:
- Handling peer pressure when alcohol is involved
- Myths and glamorization of alcohol
- What to do if they feel uncomfortable at a house where alcohol is available
- Situations you’ve experienced and how you handled the situation–both good and bad
How to help
Discovering a teen in your life might be battling alcoholism or on the cusp of alcohol abuse can be scary and overwhelming, but there are plenty of things you can do to help.
- Start by educating yourself about alcoholism and alcohol abuse
- Offer love and support by listening, attending therapy if the person asks for your support, driving them to treatment, exploring new hobbies together, etc.
- Set clear boundaries and follow up with consequences
- Know that in many cases a person cannot quit without help from a specialist
- Know that recovery is an ongoing process and that there might be setbacks
The Impact Alcohol Has on Youth
According to the CDC and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse, prolonged and excessive drinking can have a lasting impact in nearly every part of a youth’s life. Alcohol affects…
The Body
- Irregular heartbeat
- High blood pressure
- Increased likelihood of esophageal, liver, and breast cancers
- Weakened immune system
- Fibrosis
- Steatosis or fatty liver
Relationships
- Aggressive outbursts
- Decreased sex drive
- Unhealthy codependency
- Loss of trust and respect
The Brain
- Lapses in memory or memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Impaired decision making
- Inability to think abstractly
- Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders
Academics
- Decreased motivation to achieve
- Unwillingness to ask for help
- Withdrawal from day-to-day activities
Community Resources:
Your family doctor
Call 2-1-1 for more local resources