Clint Eastwood Youth Program - CEYP Newsletter
Issue 20: Alcohol and the Teen Brain (part 1)
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The latest brain research supports what many parents already know: Adolescence is a very confusing time. Happy, fun-loving children morph into bitter, ungrateful malcontents in no time flat; things they once knew how to do (wash dishes, speak clearly without swearing, show up for school, just say no), they have somehow forgotten. Research now gives us at least a partial answer to how and why this happens: Your adolescent’s brain is still under construction. And research has uncovered some disturbing facts about teenage drinking and its effects on the developing brain.
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- Alcohol takes a greater toll on brain development for those under 21 than on any other age group.
- Adolescents can drink half as much as an adult and suffer the same negative effects.
- The average age of a child’s first drink is 12 years old. Boys usually try alcohol at age 11; girls typically have their first drink at age 13.
- Approximately 20 percent of 12- to 20-year-olds binge drink.
- Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by high school seniors.
- Many adults and adolescents believe underage drinking is an inevitable “rite of passage,” and that there is no great risk or permanent harm associated with drinking.
- People who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence at some time in their life compared with those who have their first drink at age 20 or older.
- Dependence on alcohol and other drugs is associated with several psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and antisocial personality disorder.
- Alcohol use contributes to suicides, homicides, fatal injuries, sexual assaults, and unprotected sex.
- Underage drinking is a factor in nearly half of all teen automobile crashes, the leading cause of death among teenagers.
What can you do?
Fortunately, there are many things parents can do to protect their children from using and abusing alcohol.
Educate yourself, talk with your children and others. Be a good role model. Consider how your use of alcohol or medications may influence your children. Children will do what you do more than do as you say. Don’t reach for a beer, glass of wine, or cocktail the minute you come home. You may even want to consider offering only nonalcoholic beverages at parties and other social events to show your children they don’t need to drink to have fun. And don’t take pills too easily, even over-thecounter remedies.
Make a conscious effort to build your children’s self-esteem: Give deserved praise; if correcting or criticizing, talk about the action, not the person. Say “I love you” often and in different ways. Initiate or participate in conversations with your children whenever you can. Children are more likely to feel good about themselves if you emphasize their strengths and positively reinforce healthy behaviors. Allow your children opportunities to become confident, thoughtful decision-makers.
Encourage your children to leave any situation in which they don’t feel comfortable. Role-play ways they can refuse to go along with their friends without becoming social outcasts. Help your children say no when drugs, alcohol or tobacco are offered to them. Insist that they never get in a car with someone who has been drinking, and make sure they always have money for transportation or a phone number where an adult can be reached.
Teach your children to manage stress in healthy ways, such as seeking help from a trusted adult or engaging in a favorite activity.
Recognizing the signs of alcohol abuse
Even with careful parenting, your child may use — or abuse — alcohol. Know the common warning signs:
Warning signs
- the odor of alcohol, red or bloodshot eyes, persistent cough, increased fatigue/sleep problems, changes in weight (increase or decrease)
- unexplained injuries (could be caused by accidents that occur while drinking)
- frequent headaches, nausea, sensitivity to sound, especially in the morning
- other drug use, including cigarette smoking
- slurred speech or difficulty communicating effectively, lack of concentration
- blackouts or inability to account for specific periods of time
- withdrawal from family, spending more time alone, and communicating less with family and friends; loss of interest in school, sports, hobbies, or other activities
- depression, mood swings (including irritability), being quick to anger, and defensiveness
- changes in the choice of friends/peer group; not introducing new friends to you
- problems at school — falling grades, complaints from teachers/staff, reports of cutting class and absences
- discipline problems at home and/or school; problems with the law
- going out with friends a lot; attending many parties, secretive behavior — hiding things from you, locking bedroom door, not telling you who their friends are or where they are going
- lying, running away, stealing money; possessing saleable items, prescription meds, alcohol, etc.
If you witness warning signs and think your child may have an issue with alcohol, get help as soon as possible. Even if the problem isn’t specifically with alcohol or drugs, your concerns should be addressed.