Alcohol Health

Parents Maintain open line of communication Express clear, consistent message about alcohol Build close relationship with teens Number 1 (one) resource for information about alcohol

Underage drinking More children are killed by alcohol than all illegal drugs combined Children who begin drinking alcohol before the age of 15 are 5 times more likely than those who start after age 21 to develop alcohol problems More kids use alcohol than tobacco or illicit drugs

Risks Alcohol use is strongly related to: Violence Risky sexual behavior Poor performance in school Other harmful behaviors

Risks Violence/sexual activity Children who start drinking before age 15 are more likely to be injured under the influence of alcohol They are more likely to be in a fight after drinking, compared to those who wait until they are 21. Alcohol use by teens is a strong predictor of both sexual activity and unprotected sex. When surveyed, between 18 and 39% of teens say it is ok to force sex if the girl is high or drunk

Alcohol and judgement Alcohol impairs parts of the brain that control the following: Motor coordination- ability to walk, drive, think Impulse control- increase chances of someone doing something they will regret Memory- blackouts Decision making capacity- young people who drink engage in risky behavior that can result in injury, sickness or death

School Teens who use alcohol have academic problems Teens who use alcohol have higher truancy rates

Driving Young people who drink and get into a car tend to make poor decisions that impact their safety. Traffic crashes are the number one killer of teens and more than 1 in 3 teen traffic deaths are alcohol-related.

Positive influence Research show children are less likely to drink when their parents are involved in their life and they feel closer to their parents Older siblings influence younger brothers and sisters. Parents who don't drink influence children's behavior so they won't drink.

Alcohol and the body The drinker is affected with the first sip of alcohol Alcohol enters the bloodstream through the lining of the stomach Alcohol moves to every organ in the body through the bloodstream

Alcohol and the family There is a significant genetic component that is passed from generation to generation. Family environment can encourage alcoholism Domestic violence may erupt from alcoholism Marriages break up from alcoholism

Children of alcoholics FAS- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, babies born with physical signs and intellectual disabilities resulting from alcohol use of pregnant woman FAS is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation in the USA. Children of alcoholics are at higher risk of developing drinking problems themselves.

Children of alcoholics First use of alcohol typically begins around age 13, by senior year 64% of high school students get drunk at least once. Higher risk for developing problems with other drugs. Live with high tension and stress, High level of anxiety and depression Difficulty relating to peers

Recognizing a Problem Strong urge to consume alcohol (craving)‏ Inability to stop drinking once you start. Experience withdraw symptoms when alcohol is not in your system Elevated tolerance to alcohol Spend a lot of time thinking about drinking Cut down on activities in order to drink.

Conclusion Avoid drinking behavior as long as possible, preferably until 21, then, consider moderation. Utilize parents as number one resource. Utilize non drinking family and friends as a resource to not drink. Enjoy being a teen! Experiencing teenage “stuff” is more enjoyable without alcohol...