Tag Archives: underage drinking

Adolescent Alcoholism

Posted on by
Reply

Adolescent Alcoholism

An article in the UK’s daily mail this week has revealed a shocking trend: More and more, children are being admitted to hospitals with alcohol problems. According to the report, dozens of children under the age of 10 have been hospitalized for mental and behavioral disorders due to alcohol abuse.

In the United States, alcohol is the drug of choice among youth. Each year, approximately 5,000 people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking. Nationwide surveys report that two in every five eighth graders have consumed alcohol. And when youth drink, they tend to drink in binges. Binge drinking is defined as having four or five drinks in a sitting.

Adolescent alcoholism is a growing problem. Kids are experimenting with alcohol at earlier ages than ever before. Today, the average age an American girl has her first drink is 13; for a boy, it’s 11. Some researchers think that later life addiction is more common in early drinkers because the impulse control centers are not yet developed in teen brains. In other words, teens are not able to make sound decisions. People who have their first drink at 14 or younger are six times more likely to develop alcohol problems.

Adolescent alcoholism is development of alcohol addiction any time between the ages of 11 and 19. About 10-15 million people in the United States alone can be classified as alcoholics. About 4.5 million of them are adolescents.

Recent studies suggest that the brain continues to develop through age 25. Adolescent alcoholism can affect the brain’s development. Subtle changes in the brain may be difficult to detect but still have a significant impact on long-term thinking and memory skills.

Adolescent Alcoholism: What can parents do?

Studies show that having open and honest talks with your child can decrease the risk of adolescent alcoholism. Many parents think that emptying the liquor cabinets is a good idea, but you can’t go around town emptying all the liquor cabinets, so it’s important that you talk to your kids about alcohol abuse.

Also, keep in mind that the younger the age of exposure, the more likely your child will develop adolescent alcoholism or alcoholism later in life. Many people think it’s fine, and preferable, given the drinking saturated culture we live in, for teens to have their first sips early and at home, under their parents supervision. They figure that their kids are going to do it anyway, so they may as well do it at home where they will be “safe.” 1/3 of third graders report having tried beer, wine, or hard liquor at home.

However, given what we know about how early onset drinking is a primary risk factor for adolescent alcoholism and other alcohol and drug related problems, experts advise delaying exposure to alcohol for as long as possible. Before a child’s brain is developed, they have underdeveloped “brakes” so if they are exposed to alcohol at this point, they are much more likely to overindulge and develop alcohol problems.

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

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2302778/Children-young-SEVEN-admitted-hospital-alcohol-addiction.html#ixzz2PQt7FXhS

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Drink Responsibly: Top 3 Rules to Safe Drinking

Posted on by
1

Drink Responsibly: Top 3 Rules to Safe Drinking 

We live in a society where having a drink or two is as normal as going for a run, doing yoga, meditating, sleeping, going grocery shopping, or taking a stroll down the block. Drinking has evolved from an option (or recreational activity of sorts) to being a habit; and a bad one at that. We’ve glamorized and portrayed alcohol as a normal part of everyday life. Alcohol has ingrained itself into our society and to inform people on the dangers of alcohol when we’ve be told that it’s “normal” behavior to consume it and “live it up” is not easy. So, we won’t attempt to shove down your throat the perils of drinking alcohol, instead we just want to share our thoughts on how you can drink alcohol safely. Here are our top 3 rules to safe drinking:

  1. Do not engage in underage drinking. The drinking age in America is 21 years old for a reason and even at this age millions of people abuse alcohol by binge drinking or engaging in reckless behavior while intoxicated which puts themselves and others in danger. The human brain is not fully developed until the age of 25. That means that a person is truly not considered an adult until age 25. The brain is still growing and developing until the age of 25 yet people are allowed to ingest alcohol which affects the development of the human brain. We’ll safely blame that on a mixture of societal and governmental doing. Drinking prematurely can affect the development of your brain so it’s crucial that you do not engage in underage drinking. Just wait, it’s not worth the risk of getting caught by your parents, doing poorly in school, becoming sick or getting in trouble with the law. Be smart and be safe, just wait.
  2. Do not drink and drive or operate heavy machinery. When you become 21 and are able to drink, if you choose to drink, do so responsibly. Do not drink and drive or operate heavy machinery. When alcohol enters your body is slows downs your motor skills and thus impairs your ability to operate any type of vehicle. People who are intoxicated can barely walk straight so imagine how it’d be if they tried to drive a car. It just doesn’t sound too smart, does it?
  3. Do not binge drink or consume more than 1 alcoholic drink per hour. Alcohol like everything else should be consumed in moderation. Our bodies are not never-ending vessels that can handle large amounts of alcohol. Think about it, if we overeat we will get sick and/or throw up. Our bodies have limits when it comes to what we put in it. The body only needs enough food and liquids to keep it alive. Alcohol, though it has some benefits, can do us more harm than good if taken in large amounts, especially over a long period of time. When we ingest alcohol it goes into our blood stream, pumps into our brain throughout the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and the limbic system.  In the brain, alcohol latches onto the membrane of cells. It affects the neurotransmitters sent between different cells. These messages control what a person thinks, does and feels. By inhibiting some messages, and encouraging others, alcohol changes behaviors and thoughts.

This article is for informational purposes only. We’re not trying to tell anyone what to do but we just want to spread information on how to make the best choices when deciding to drink any alcoholic beverages; even those labeled non-alcoholic. Oh, yeah they do have alcohol in it so be careful.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Hand Sanitizer Alcohol Abuse

Posted on by
Reply

Hand Sanitizer Alcohol Abuse

By Jenny Hunt

California authorities have noticed a shocking new trend in teenagers looking to get a quick high: Hand Sanitizer Alcohol Abuse. In the last week, at least six teens have checked in to LA area hospitals after allegedly imbibing hand sanitizer to get drunk. Hand sanitizer alcohol abuse has become the newest way for teens to get wasted.

Hand sanitizer alcohol abuse has gained popularity because it’s easily obtained by underage drinkers, is relatively cheap, and has very high alcohol content. The high alcohol content is part of the danger of hand sanitizer alcohol abuse. Hand sanitizers have alcohol concentrations of up to 70 percent—that’s 140 proof, whereas most liquors-whiskey, vodka, and gin, have a concentration of 45 percent alcohol (80 proof.) Often, teens engaging in hand sanitizer alcohol abuse down shots of the gooey liquid without realizing how much stronger it is. By the time the alcohol is metabolized, they have drunk far more than they realized. The accessability of the Internet has propelled hand sanitizer alcohol abuse as teens are finding recipes online to help make hand sanitizer more palatable. Some teens are mixing the gel with salt to break it down to a liquid.

 

Hand sanitizer alcohol abuse is just the latest development in bizarre teen drug use which includes vodka tampons and semi-legal synthetic drugs such as synthetic cannabis (“spice” or “K2) and bath salts. Both the risky behavior of teens and the danger of such drug use could be traced back to adolescent brain development. A recent study determined that brain development is not fully complete until age 25. Before the brain fully develops, it lacks the connections that allow reasoned decision making. This is why teens have poor impulse control and are somewhat lacking in common sense.

The fact that a teen’s brain and body has not fully developed makes hand sanitizer alcohol abuse and other forms of underage drinking more dangerous. Underage drinking can affect the brain’s development. Subtle changes in the brain may be difficult to detect but still have a significant impact on long-term thinking and memory skills. Underage drinking can also cause liver damage, especially if the teen is overweight or obese. In addition, drinking alcohol prior to or during puberty may upset the critical hormonal balance necessary for normal development of organs, muscles, and bones.

Some parents and school officials have made an effort to limit the availability of alcohol based hand sanitizer in homes and schools. However, hand sanitizer alcohol abuse isn’t that different from other types of teen substance abuse and the best way to combat it is with an open discussion. Unfortunately, more than a quarter of parents with teenage children have never had a discussion with them about alcohol or drug use. Parents are urged to be clear, firm and consistent when discouraging their teen from underage drinking and engaging in these risky new “legal” ways to get high. drug. Parents should also assure their teen that they will not be alone in turning down drugs and alcohol. In fact, teen alcohol abuse is on the decline nationally. Talking with your children early and often about hand sanitizer alcohol abuse can make a difference. It’s best to instill an open door policy about drugs and alcohol with your children.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Binge Drinking Claims Another Victim

Status

Reply

Binge Drinking Claims Another Victim

Baylor University’s Sigma Chi fraternity is being sued in connection with a Texas teenager’s alleged binge drinking. Megan Helal, 19, attended a fraternity-sponsored party at a local bar and consumed 10-17 drinks in a 2-hour span. She was found unconscious and later died at the hospital. Helal’s parents are now suing the fraternity for negligence. The lawsuit alleges the party was reckless and irresponsible. It names several members of the fraternity, the fraternity’s national chapter, as well as the owner and employees at the bar where Helal was served liquor.

Megan Helal’s death is not uncommon among American college students. 44% of students attending 4-year colleges drink alcohol at the binge level or greater. Binge drinking is a pattern of excessive alcohol consumption. It is defined as consuming more than five drinks for men-and four drinks for women- in one sitting. Since 1993, the number of college students who binge drink and use drugs has remained largely the same, but the amount of drugs and alcohol consumed by college students has risen dramatically. The number of college students who meet the criteria for substance abuse and dependence is almost three times the national average.

The financial impact of binge drinking and blackouts is significant.  Binge drinking alcohol can cause memory loss similar to amnesia. These periods of alcohol-related amnesia are generally referred to as blackouts. A blackout — the inability to recall events without a full loss of consciousness — means sufferers can walk, talk, drive or have sex but can’t remember any of it — creating a greater risk for car crashes, other accidents, unwanted pregnancy and STDs. A recent study estimated that on a large college campus (40,000 students or more) blackout-associated emergency department visit costs would range from $469,000 to $546,000 per year.

So why do so many college students binge drink? It has to do with the fact that binge-drinking alcohol in college is socially acceptable, almost expected. Many college students binge drink as a result of peer pressure or social expectations. In pop-culture, college is portrayed as a non-stop party. When young people go off to college falsely thinking that “everybody” is drinking and bingeing, they are more likely to binge drink in order to conform.

So what’s the risk? Obviously, binge drinking risks overdose, especially when combined with other drugs. Also, many people report engaging in high-risk behavior while binge drinking and especially during a blackout. They drive while intoxicated, get into fights, or engage in unprotected sex. Blackouts are a strong predictor of alcohol related emergency room visits.

Further, recent studies have shown that the brain is still developing through age 25. Alcohol, particularly episodes of binge drinking, affects the part of the brain that handles impulse control and decision-making. Damage to the brain early can make it hard for young people to make healthy choices about acceptable alcohol use and impulse control later in life. This can lead to many difficulties, including a higher incidence of drug and alcohol abuse and addiction.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.