Alcohol and adolescents

The Effects As shown in a tests done by the AMA teenage adolescents that drink performed worse in the tests that were conducted. Verbal and the non verbal tests that were done showed that the drinkers preformed a staggering 10% worse then the non teenage drinkers. Adolescents that drink generally perform worse in school, are more likely to fall behind and they also have and increased risked of social problems, depression, suicidal thoughts and violence. Alcohol also affects the sleep cycle. This results in impaired learning and memory as well as disruption in the release of hormones needed for growth and maturity. Alcohol can increase the risk of stroke in young drinkers.

Areas of the brain that is effected The Hippocampus. This part of the brain handles many types of learning and memory. This part of the brain is affected the most by teenagers that drink from a young age. The pre-frontal area under goes the most changes during adolescents. Researches round that teenage drinking could cause severe changes in this area and other which play an important role in forming and adult personality and behaviour. The pre-frontal area can be called the CEO of the brain.

Facts In America $20 billion dollars is spent on alcohol each year. Underage drinkers contribute an estimated 20% to that industry each year. There are add directed at teenagers that can be very misleading. These adds can suggest that alcohol can improve there lives. Effects memory, causes brain damage and altered brain development. Teenage abusers are impaired for at least three weeks after there last drink. Alcohol can cause black outs if large amounts are consumed in a short time. This can mean you don’t remember things whilst you are intoxicated.

Additional Facts In the U.S. Over 4.5 million teenagers between 14 and 17 are problem drinkers. Nearly half of teenagers that commit suicide are intoxicated at the time. 42 million children live in homes with alcohol-dependent parents, relatives, or guardians. Approximately 50 percent of those children will themselves develop a problem with alcohol. Regular heavy drinking adds more health risks. Alcohol is a neurotoxin, which means it can poison the brain. a hangover is your body's way of telling you it can't cope with the amount of alcohol you've had Alcohol is a factor in 50% of all drowning. alcohol still affects you even after you no longer have alcohol in your body .

More Facts alcohol misuse costs the Australian community 15.3 billion dollars each year when factors such as crime and violence, treatment costs, loss of productivity and premature death were taken into account. 51% of alcohol consumed is drunk at levels that pose a risk of short-term harm. over 3 000 Australians die each year as a result of harmful drinking. over 450 000 children (13.2%) live in households where they are at risk of exposure to binge drinking by at least one adult

Bibliography. www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/9416.html www.fadaa.org/services/service/events/drudsummit/summite2006.pdf www.duke.edu/~amwhite/Adolescence http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/stratman/Policy/schoolgov/druged/parent_fact_sheets/factsheet_1_alcohol_adolescent_development.pdf http://www.healthfirst.net.au/content/view/676/42 http://www.alcohol.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=88