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:

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.

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…

Body

The Body

  • Irregular heartbeat
  • High blood pressure
  • Increased likelihood of esophageal, liver, and breast cancers
  • Weakened immune system
  • Fibrosis
  • Steatosis or fatty liver
Relationships

Relationships

  • Aggressive outbursts
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Unhealthy codependency
  • Loss of trust and respect
Brain

The Brain

  • Lapses in memory or memory loss
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Impaired decision making
  • Inability to think abstractly
  • Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders
Education

Academics

  • Decreased motivation to achieve
  • Unwillingness to ask for help
  • Withdrawal from day-to-day activities