Thanks to magnetic resonance imaging, we know that tremendous brain development occurs during the teen years, and that the brain is not fully developed until about age 25. We also know that part of the brain that controls planning, delayed gratification and judgment develops last. That’s why kids take risks and often don’t think thing through before jumping in.
It’s also why regular alcohol use during adolescence is dangerous. Drinking lowers inhibitions for risky behavior. And unfortunately, too many Oregon youngsters drink. In the past month about one in three 8th graders consumed alcohol. About one in four 11th graders binged, consuming five or more drinks within a couple of hours. Alcohol is the biggest drug problem among youth. And it is not just about safety; there are serious health consequences as well.
Important work is being done on this issue at Oregon Health & Science University’s Portland Alcohol Research Center. Here are some of the things they are finding out: Q: Excessive drinking by youth has several dangerous short-term consequences including car crashes. What is research telling us about the long-term health effects?
A: Alcohol impacts nearly the entire body. So it‘s no surprise that long-term alcohol use can lead to problems from head to toe. Research shows that a few years of heavy drinking can hamper youth in school and in learning to interact and build relationships with others. Regular alcohol use can lower overall brain function and learning ability. It also can undermine kid’s decision-making ability and impede the development of social skills. The younger a person is when they start to drink regularly, the more likely they are to become alcoholics. Young people also tend to become addicted faster than adults. Overall, alcohol compromises the body’s immune system and causes greater susceptibility to diseases. It can fuel the destructiveness of mouth, throat, pancreatic and other cancers. With prolonged alcohol use, the heart enlarges, its muscles weaken and its beat becomes irregular. Alcohol can lead to high blood pressure, weight gain, weakened muscles, liver and kidney failure.In addition, alcohol affects genders differently. Women/girls tend to suffer alcohol’s adverse effects faster. Pound for pound and drink for drink, a woman will develop a higher blood alcohol level than a man. Women concentrate more alcohol in their internal organs such as the brain, heart and liver. As a result, women’s organs tend to wear out faster, and female alcoholics tend to die sooner than male alcoholics.
Q: What makes adolescent brains especially vulnerable to alcohol’s effects? A: It’s simple: adolescent brains are still developing. During this time, the brain is supercharged to take in, store, analyze, and act on information and experiences. A great strength of the brain is at this stage is its receptiveness and malleability. Adolescents are building up a vast reservoir of knowledge, emotional fortitude and skills.
However, this great strength can have a major downside. An adolescent brain exposed to alcohol is more easily damaged than an adult’s. Overall brain size may be reduced. Alcohol decreases communication among nerve cells, which is the brains stock in trade. Hence, the brain and body do not work as well. Some youngsters given all the challenges of growing up are anxious or suffer from depression. We know through research that these adolescents can be at risk for alcohol addictionCONCLUSION: Parents don’t underestimate your impact. Kids say their parents are the most powerful influence on whether they drink. Daily involvement with your child’s life is huge. Talk with your child, get to know their friends, make sure you know what activities they are getting involved in.
The fact is most kids don’t drink. That message alone is important to convey to your child. The key is to express clear opposition to underage drinking and establish rules and consequences about it.
