Alcohol affects your brain. Drinking excess alcohol
leads to a loss of coordination, poor judgment, slowed reflexes,
distorted vision, memory lapses, and even blackouts.
Get the Facts:
Alcohol affects your brain. Drinking excess alcohol
leads to a loss of coordination, poor judgment, slowed reflexes,
distorted vision, memory lapses, and even blackouts.
Alcohol affects your body. Alcohol can damage every
organ in your body. It is absorbed directly into your bloodstream and
can increase your risk for a variety of life-threatening diseases,
including cancer.
Alcohol affects your self-control. Alcohol depresses
your central nervous system, lowers your inhibitions, and impairs
your judgment. Drinking can lead to risky behaviors, including having
unprotected sex. This may expose you to HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases or cause unwanted pregnancy.
Alcohol can kill you. Drinking large amounts of alcohol
can lead to coma or even death. Also, in 1998, 35.8 percent of
traffic deaths of 15- to 20-year-olds were alcohol-related.
Alcohol can hurt you -- even if you're not the one
drinking. If you're around people who are drinking, you have an
increased risk of being seriously injured, involved in car crashes,
or affected by violence. At the very least, you may have to deal with
people who are sick, out of control, or unable to take care of
themselves.
Before You Risk It: Know the law. It is illegal to buy or possess alcohol if you are under 21.
More facts.
One drink can make you fail a breath test. In some states, people under the age of 21 who are found to have any amount of alcohol in their systems can lose their driver's license, be subject to a heavy fine, or have their car permanently taken away.
Stay informed. "Binge" drinking means having five or
more drinks on one occasion. About 15 percent of teens are binge
drinkers in any given month.
Know the risks. Mixing alcohol with medications or
illicit drugs is extremely dangerous and can lead to accidental
death. For example, alcohol-medication interactions may be a factor
in at least 25 percent of emergency room admissions.
Keep your edge. Alcohol can make you gain weight and
give you bad breath.
Look around you. Most teens aren't drinking alcohol.
Research shows that 70 percent of people 12-20 haven't had a drink in
the past month.
Know the Signs: How can you tell if a friend has a
drinking problem? Sometimes it's tough to tell. But there are signs
you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following
warning signs, he or she may have a problem with alcohol:
What can you do to help someone who has a drinking problem? Be a real friend. You might even save a life. Encourage your friend to stop or seek professional help. For information and referrals, call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686.
Questions & Answers:
Aren't beer and wine "safer" than liquor? No. One
12-ounce beer has about as much alcohol as a 1.5-ounce shot of
liquor, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a wine cooler.
Why can't teens drink if their parents can? Teens'
bodies are still developing and alcohol has a greater impact on their
physical and mental well-being. For example, people who begin
drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop
alcoholism than those who begin at age 21.
How can I say no to alcohol? I'm afraid I won't fit in.
Remember, you're in good company. The majority of teens don't drink
alcohol. Also, it's not as hard to refuse as you might think. Try:
"No thanks," "I don't drink," or "I'm not interested."
Published By: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Source: alcoholscreening.org/learnmore/teens.asp
