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Alcohol is a mind-altering drug just like cocaine, heroin and marijuana.
Some adults view drinking as a "rite of passage" for adolescents or just
"innocent" behavior. But alcohol is a drug. It can alter moods. It is a
nervous system depressant and reacts with prescription and illegal drugs. Young
people are at a much greater risk than adults for emotional and physical harm
from drinking because their growing bodies are so sensitive to the effects of
alcohol.
There are some things to keep in mind when it comes to young people and
alcohol:
- Under age drinking is
illegal. Anyone drinking under the age of 21 in South Dakota can be given
a citation or a fine. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for an adult to furnish
alcohol to a minor.
- Sexual activity and
drug use often occur around drinking. The first drink of alcohol sedates
the parts of the brain that determine judgment and decision-making. "I didn't
know what I was doing" becomes both a reason and an excuse.
- Adolescents get
addicted fast. Adolescents can become addicted to alcohol in only six to
eighteen months. For adults, it can take five to fifteen years.
- Younger use means a
greater chance of becoming an alcoholic. Teenagers are still developing.
The brain, nervous system, reproductive system and liver are still maturing.
The body and muscle mass are incomplete and much more sensitive to the
chemicals in drugs.
- Problem drinkers cease
growing up - mentally, emotionally or socially. A young person is
forming a sense of personal identity and learning basic social skills.
Alcohol disrupts this process by producing a chemical high that affects the
process
of learning how to deal with others, carry out responsibilities and handle
problems. Problem drinkers become adults who remain like children.
- Adolescents usually
drink to get drunk. Kids do not drink socially. They drink to get buzzed
or wasted. There is no known 'safe' dose of alcohol for young people. Any
level of alcohol in the body of a young person puts him at risk.
- High death rate among
adolescents is linked to alcohol. The only age group with an increasing
death rate is the 15-24 year olds. Accidents, suicides and homicides - most
of which are drug or alcohol related - are unnatural causes and all are
preventable.
- Intoxication can be
lethal. Alcohol is a toxic and unpredictable drug. Acute intoxication (in
addition to giddiness, uninhibited behavior, slurred speech, muscular
in-coordination and incoherence) can cause coma and even death.
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Fast Facts about Alcohol
*Most widely used drug among American teens
*Third leading cause of death in the U.S. (behind heart disease and
cancer)
*Responsible for more than half of fire deaths, drowning deaths, injuries,
traffic fatalities and murders in the nation.
*Long term use can lead to: memory loss, high blood pressure, enlarged
heart, liver ailments, impotency, and ulcers. |
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