By Dr. Tim Shannon, PsyD, OSF Medical Group
Aside from being illegal, underage drinking is a widespread public health problem. Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States. In fact, alcoholic treatment centers see more 18 to 20-year-olds than 25 to 30-year-olds. When adolescents try alcohol, they typically do not realize the damaging effects drinking can have on their personal lives, their families, and their future.
Risky Business
Although extreme, death and injury are very real consequences to underage drinking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is responsible for more than 4,300 annual deaths among underage youth from alcohol-related car accidents, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning, and other injuries such as falls, burns, and drowning. In addition, there were approximately 189,000 emergency room visits by persons under the age of 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol in 2010. Youth who drink are also at risk for:
- Memory and brain development problems
- Social problems, such as fighting
- School problems, such as higher absence and poor grades
- Legal problems
- Abuse/use of other drugs
- Developing alcoholism later in life
The consequences to underage drinking are serious, but typically overlooked by adolescents due to peer pressure, stress, and/or curiosity. It is important to be able to recognize the signs of underage drinking in order to prevent these consequences or stop them from escalating.
Here’s Your Sign
Whether you’re a parent, social worker, teacher, health care professional, or anyone who interacts with teenagers, you should pay close attention to the following warning signs of underage drinking:
- Smelling alcohol on a young person’s breath
- Changes in mood, such as increased anger and irritability
- Academic and/or behavioral problems at school
- Changing groups of friends
- Low energy
- Less interest in favorite activities
- Problems concentrating and/or remembering
- Slurred speech
- Coordination problems
If you notice any of these characteristics in a teenager, it may indicate underage drinking and calls for immediate intervention.
Straight Talk
Confronting a teen about alcohol abuse may be uncomfortable, but the sooner you intervene, the better. Having an open conversation with the adolescents in our lives, whether it’s our children, students, or patients, is crucial. First and foremost, the most important message to convey is underage drinking is illegal, and youths should not be doing illegal things. Period.
When talking to a teen about underage drinking, be sure to keep it conversational. Lecturing or yelling will not yield positive results. Before you start the conversation about underage drinking, take some time to think about the issues you want to discuss, such as the consequences to their actions.
Another option for intervening with an adolescent’s underage drinking is outpatient or inpatient alcohol abuse counseling. Overcoming alcohol abuse can be a bumpy road and sometimes best handled by a professional, licensed behavioral therapist. Together, the teen and the therapist can work toward effective treatment and recovery, whether it’s for early stages of alcohol abuse or full-blown alcoholism.
The consequences of underage drinking can affect everyone, regardless of age or drinking status. Whether it’s violence, property damage, or a death as a result of underage drinking, this is not simply a problem for some families, but rather a widespread public health concern. Take action today and talk to the teens in your life about underage drinking.
Dr. Tim Shannon, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with OSF Medical Group — Behavioral Health. Dr. Shannon received his doctorate from the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology and has been practicing psychology for more than 25 years. Located at 405 Kays Drive in Normal, OSF Behavioral Health offers outpatient alcohol abuse counseling for teens and adults. To schedule an appointment or to learn more about OSF Behavioral Health, please visit osfmedicalgroup.org or call 309-664-3130.
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