Last Updated On: October 31, 2024
As a parent, it’s natural to keep an eye on your teen’s well-being, but one critical risk you may not notice right away is binge drinking in teenagers. While most of you assume that not many young people drink a lot, the latest research paints a different picture. Around 3.3 million teens say that they are involved in binge drinking at least once a month.
Binge drinking describes excessive alcohol consumption. It is a manner of use that elevates the blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or higher. The American Academy of Pediatrics considers teenage binge drinking to have far-reaching implications, from brain damage to sudden accidents
However, as a parent or guardian, you can raise awareness regarding underage drinking. It will guide your children into healthy choices now and in the near future. Read below to learn more about this scary teen behavior as well as what you can do for your young adult.
Binge drinking is defined as drinking an excessive amount of alcohol over a short period of time. It results in heavy intoxication that comes on suddenly. Binge drinkers can suffer a severe and potentially fatal reaction to alcohol overdose, known as alcohol poisoning. It can cause someone to pass out, feel sick and vomit. For a group of teenagers, this may have become a norm – seeing friends who pass out or vomit due to drinking. However, this is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. Individuals need to understand the dangers of binge drinking and what steps to take if someone experiences alcohol poisoning.
Teenage binge drinking is a serious concern for both parents and those who interact with the teenagers. Therefore it is important to understand the causes and risk factors associated with the condition to provide effective and early intervention, if necessary. It will help you to get effective and early intervention, if necessary. The causes of the condition can be categorized into two types. Internal risk factors are specified to an individual, and external risk factors are based on the individual’s environment.
Risk factors that influence binge drinking teenagers can be difficult to control. However, recognizing the initial sights for such causes can be the most important step in preventing the condition from getting worse. Following are some of the causes of teen alcohol abuse.
The link between alcoholism and genetics is incontrovertible. Research shows that certain genetic factors might influence teenagers to develop substance use disorders. The term is known as predisposition and is related to a person’s natural tendency to struggle with certain problems. The genes ADH1B and ALDH2 control alcohol metabolism, which might also develop alcoholism in teenagers.
Frequent and constant consumption of alcohol will drastically alter the function of the brain. Since teenagers’ brains are developing, their involvement in teenage binge drinking without proper treatment will trigger their drug and alcohol addiction.
As you enter your teens, your friends might exert more and more influence over the choices you make. When you get desperate to fit in and be accepted, you are more likely to engage in teenage binge drinking with your friends.
The teen years are challenging, and they might turn to alcohol as a misguided attempt. It could be to cope with stress, the pressure of schoolwork, boredom, or mental health issues like anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, or ADHD. Since alcohol is a depressant, using it for self-medication will make the condition of binge-drinking teenagers even worse.
Films and TV will positively portray binge-drinking teenagers. Alcohol advertising focuses on positive experiences with alcohol. It sells the brand as a desirable and popular lifestyle choice rather than a realistic view. Social media makes teenagers feel like they are missing out on their social life by not drinking or causing them to feel ‘not enough’ to live their lives.
Any traumatic experience in life can cause an individual to develop the habit of binge drinking. These alcohol risk factors are highly maladaptive and can progress to alcoholism.
Engaging in alcohol consumption through binge drinking behavior will have short and long-term impacts on teenagers’ physical, emotional, and mental health. Excessive teenage binge drinking can have potential impacts on the community and society. It will also have an adverse influence on your relationship with friends and family. Binge-drinking teenagers also suffer from drunk driving, car accidents, violent acts, and suicide.
Some common short-term health impacts of binge drinking in teenagers include,
When teenagers engage in alcohol consumption for an extended period, especially in a binge drinking pattern, it will lead to long-term health implications and serious consequences. Here are some long-term health effects of consuming alcohol in a binge drinking pattern.
According to recent research, brain development continues in teenagers until they reach age 25, where most brain growth happens during adolescence between the years 12 and 17. Abusing alcohol during this period can be extremely dangerous, as it can lead to permanent changes, making mental illnesses and cognition more difficult.
A study found that physical damage to neurons and brain structure caused by teenage binge drinking will persist into adulthood. The changes to the prefrontal cortex will cause long-lasting harm, which is linked to impulsivity, memory problems, and more.
As a teenager engages in excessive binge drinking, they might experience alcohol positions, which can result in a lethal amount of alcohol being consumed. The alcohol content in the blood will dramatically increase at an alarming rate, making it challenging for your body to metabolize the alcohol through the liver. It will cause your body to become poisoned with alcohol, resulting in life-threatening and fatal side effects.
The following signs and symptoms might indicate the progression from a drunken state to alcohol poisoning.
If the alcohol is in extreme condition, then the individual can go into a coma and might potentially die. To prevent such occurrences, it is important to have proper first aid training. It will enable you to assist victims in the event of binge-drinking episode theory to avoid any potentially tragic results.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services show that children between 10 and 18 report that their parents have the biggest influence on their decision to drink alcohol. Therefore, as a partner, it is your job to educate your teen about drinking alcoholic beverages. In this way, they will be able to make their own healthy choices, preventing themselves from engaging in teenage binge drinking. Here are some preventive strategies to help you make smart, safe decisions in preventing teen drinking.
Teens are busy with school and other extracurricular activities. They may not seem interested in spending time with you as they were when they were younger. Nonetheless, make an effort to spend time with them as family, making them feel connected to you. Teens who have better connections with their parents are less likely to make choices that aren’t supported by them.
Parents and other significant adults are the primary ones included in your teen’s use of alcohol. In such cases, you can be a positive role model for your children. For instance, choose not to drink alcohol. It will send your teen a powerful message about the hazardous nature of binge drinking.
On social media, teens tend to share and confess things they might communicate in person. Therefore, monitor the teenager’s social media activities to make sure they do not post things that might indicate their teenage binge drinking habit.
To achieve long-term positive effects and set your teen up for success, make sure to prepare them beforehand to seek support from professionals. Make it clear to them that seeking help will be valuable and effective. Reinforce that seeking support is not a sign of weakness but strength. Assure them that they are not alone in the recovery journey, but you will be there to support them in every step.
There are many resources for teenagers struggling with binge drinking to overcome the disorder. If you are one of those, it is important to know that you are not alone. You can get the necessary guidance and tools to lead a healthy and alcohol-free life.
Some of the available resources are,
You can avail of online therapy for binge-drinking teenagers to get help with long-term addiction. You can start your therapy journey through their easy online scheduling with licensed therapists.
Several support groups exist for teenagers to help them cope with their drinking behaviors. You can attend their meetings in person, online, or via the phone at your convenience to discuss the issues that you are currently facing. The experts and members of the group will advise one another on how to support and encourage themselves to seek the treatment/ therapy they need.
You can seek support from research organizations to understand teenage binge drinking better. They offer resources on the impact of related mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and conditions like bipolar disorder, that often coexist. The researchers will provide you with information about treating the underlying conditions. You will learn to debunk common misconceptions and connect with certified therapists.
Excessive alcohol use is a serious issue among young people. While so many other issues are affecting their teen period right now, you might think that binge drinking is not a big problem. However, when you look at alcohol’s effect on their developing brain, the risk will become clearer. As a parent, you can guide them toward avoiding alcohol use and making smart choices.
If you are dealing with teenage binge drinking, calmly discuss the issue with them and educate yourself to help them quit the habit. Reach out to professional help to implement effective strategies to ensure they lead an alcohol-free, happy life.
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