BINGE DRINKING Impact On Adolescents

Binge Drinking Defined as drinking at least four drinks in a row for females and five for males on one or more occasions. Nearly 9 percent of boys and 7 percent of girls ages 12 to 17 reported binge drinking in the previous month. Binge drinking: often begins around age 13, tends to increase during adolescence, peaks in young adulthood (ages 18 to 22), then gradually decreases. Among persons under the legal drinking age (12 to 20), 15 percent were binge drinkers and 7 percent were heavy drinkers.

BINGE DRINKING WHEN PEOPLE BINGE DRINK, THEY TAKE IN ALCOHOL FASTER THAN THE BODY CAN PROCESS IT. The body can only process ½ ounce of alcohol per hour. Ingestion beyond this time frame will result in alcohol intoxication, coma and possibly death.

Alcohol Poisoning A severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcohol overdose When excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed, the brain is deprived of oxygen. The struggle to deal with an overdose of alcohol and lack of oxygen will eventually cause the brain to shut down the involuntary functions that regulate breathing and heart rate. Symptoms include: –Vomiting –Unconsciousness –Cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin –Slow or irregular breathing (less than 8 breaths a minute or 10 or more seconds between breaths).

Alcohol poisoning quickly affects bodily functions that sustain life. As a depressant, alcohol affects breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. When people drink too much in a short time, the areas of the brain that control these functions can be sedated—LITERALLY PUT TO SLEEP. If that happens, people can die because breathing mechanisms shut down or people choke on their own vomit.

Underage Drinking can “Program" the Brain for Alcoholism! Underage alcohol use greatly increases the risk of alcoholism, according to the Institutes of Medicine - National Research Council report "Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility." Start before age 15: Five times more likely of developing alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking alcohol at age 21.

Here's why: The brain is hard-wired to reward feelings of pleasure so we naturally want to repeat them. Feelings can range from an intense emotional "high" to a happy sense of satisfaction from doing something well or for someone else. We remember pleasure from dopamine, a "feel-good" brain chemical.

Alcohol hijacks the brain's pleasure- reward system by stimulating unusual amounts of dopamine, and other neurochemicals, creating feelings of pleasure from a chemical instead of a natural experience. Because the teen brain produces an abundance of dopamine (compared to an adult), it can rapidly go from liking, to craving, to needing alcohol, thus programming it for alcoholism.

Important Fact: The adolescent brain differs greatly from that of a mature adult. In fact, research demonstrates that, among other areas of the brain, the thinking part of the brain (Prefrontal Cortex) is not fully developed until age 24. Use of any substance before 24 can delay, and in some studies, stop physical brain maturation!

Alcohol Use Hinders Adolescent Brain Growth and Permanently Reduces Development

Daniel Amen, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist in Southern California, used SPECT scans to show functional activity levels in the brain of a healthy non-drinker (left), and that of a sober 21- year old with a four-year history of heavy alcohol use (right). The "holes" indicate areas of reduced brain activity.

 Prefrontal cortex:  The prefrontal area [responsible for good judgment, planning, decision making, impulse control and other tasks necessary for academic success such as retaining information, prioritizing, organizing, completing assignments and preparing for tests.] undergoes the most change during adolescence. Researchers found that adolescent drinking could cause severe changes in this area… which plays an important role in forming adult personality and behavior… Damage from alcohol at this time can be long-term and irreversible.

Prefrontal Cortex

Hippocampus: The hippocampus (involved in learning and memory) …suffers the worst alcohol-related brain damage in teens… Those who had been drinking more and for longer had significantly smaller hippocampi (10 percent) …In addition, short-term or moderate drinking impairs learning and memory far more in youth than adults… Frequent drinkers may never be able to catch up in adulthood because alcohol inhibits systems crucial for storing new information. Source Source

Weekend Abuse of Alcohol Seventeen Years of heavy weekend use (see following slide).

Bottom of Same Brain Seventeen years of heavy weekend use (see following slide).

Alcohol and Crime 40% of violent crimes involves alcohol 70% of all crimes are alcohol related Alcohol is a key factor in –68% of manslaughters, –62% of assaults, –54% of murders/attempted murders, –48% of robberies –44% of burglaries.

Consequences In College Consequences In College 1,400 college students die from alcohol- related causes, and 1,100 of these deaths involve drinking and driving. 500,000 students suffer nonfatal injuries. 400,000 students have unprotected sex. More than 100,000 students are too intoxicated to know whether they consented to sexual intercourse.

Frequent binge drinkers were 21 times more likely than non-binge drinkers to have : Missed class Engaged in unplanned sexual activity Fallen behind in school work Not used protection when having sex Damaged property Gotten in trouble with police Been hurt or injured Driven a car after drinking

The national average age when youth first try alcohol 11 years for boys. 13 years for girls. 13 years for girls. The average age at which Americans begin drinking regularly is 15.9 years old.

Alcohol- Still The Leader The three leading causes of death for ages 15 – 24 are automobile crashes, homicides and suicides -- alcohol is a leading factor in all three. homicidessuicides homicidessuicides

Alcohol has a GREATER impact on the developing teen brain Alcohol impairs the areas that control motor coordination, impulse control, memory, and judgment. Kids who drink are at greater risk for school failure and dropping out. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration- SAMHSA) Alcohol impairs the areas that control motor coordination, impulse control, memory, and judgment. Kids who drink are at greater risk for school failure and dropping out. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration- SAMHSA)

Reasons To Abstain “A child who reaches age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol or using drugs is virtually certain never to do so”. Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Chairman and President, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Chairman and President, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia UniversityThe National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia UniversityThe National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University

Communication Tools Use current research: Kids are curious. “Let me tell you a little bit about the effects of….or ask them what they know about the effects/risks.” Be well informed: Know the facts. Students are sophisticated! Stay on neutral ground: Illustrate what happens to any user of a substance, rather than focusing on the student’s use. State what experts have found, not what you think happens. Ask, “What do you think of all this?” Use teachable moments: Use examples from articles, movies, students’ conversations, etc. Let them overhear you talking about the subject. Believe that kids want your help; they value your input but may not show you. Refer to a chemical dependency counselor.

Chemical Dependency Programs for Youth Daybreak Treatment Center (main office), (outpatient), (Valley office) Native Project Excelsior Youth Center xt 116 NEWTA provides drug testing at reduced rates