1. By Jordan Bideaux

2. Alcohol is the most widely used drug in the world. Nearly half of Americans over the age off 12 are consumers. Among the nation’s alcoholics and problem drinkers are as many as 4.5 million adolescents. There are 10 to 15 million alcoholics or problem drinkers in the United States, with more than 100,000 deaths each year attributed to alcohol. Facts of alcohol

3. Slows brain activity. Motor Skills: difficulty walking, slowed reaction Blurred vision, slurred speech, & impaired memory. It also kills brain cells. Effects decision-making. Effects of Alcohol on Brain

4. Fatty Liver: 20 percent of alcoholics and heavy drinkers develop fatty liver. Is reversable. Alcoholic Hepatitis: is inflammation of the liver caused by alcohol. Cirrhosis of the liver: is the most serious and final form-causes death. Effects of Alcohol on the Liver

5. Addiction is a brain-based disease. Children who live with the chaos and confusion of addiction often see only the irrational behavior that follows the disease. Once addicted ALWAYS addicted BUT they can recover. Some people have brains that are more susceptible than others to the disease (genetic). The younger someone starts drinking, the greater the chance that the person will develop a problem. Alcohol Addiction

6. Underage drinking can "program" the brain for alcoholism. Drinking before age 15 = 40% chance of becoming an alcoholic Illegal drugs: 67 % who drink before the age of 15 will go on to use illegal drugs. They are 22 X more likely to use marijuana, & 50 X more likely to use cocaine. 95 percent of meth users began drinking before the age of 15. (www.samhsa.gov) Linked to mental health problems: Among 12- to 17- year-olds who were current drinkers, 31 percent exhibited extreme levels of psychological distress & 39% exhibited serious behavioral problems. (Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free) Teen Alcoholism

7. Alcohol tricks the brain's pleasure-reward system by stimulating the production of dopamine. It thus creates feelings of pleasure from a harmful chemical instead of a real experience. Because the teen brain produces an abundance of dopamine (compared to an adult brain), it can rapidly go from liking, to wanting, to needing alcohol, thus programming it for alcoholism. www.samsha.gov Why are teens in more risk?

8. http://www.toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov/tweens/games/Memory.aspx http://www.toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov/tweens/games/Rebus.aspx Prevention Games