Alcohol Abuse In Teens

Alcohol Abuse in Teens
Alcoholism is one of the biggest and unrecognized problems in our society today. Alcoholism is a substance-use disorder in which the sufferer has problems managing how much alcohol he/she consumes. Alcoholism (alcohol dependence) is a negative pattern of alcohol use leading to a number of problems, which may include needing more alcohol to get intoxicated (tolerance), difficulties that occur when the effects of alcohol wear off (withdrawal), using more alcohol or for longer time than intended, and other life problems because of the use of alcohol.
Five stages of alcohol and drug use have been identified. The first stage is described as access to alcohol rather than use of alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, or other drugs.
With many people, alcohol not only changes their appearance but also who they are. It can cause a normally quiet, happy person to be loud, obnoxious, and aggressive without that person even knowing. Signs that indicate people are intoxicated include the smell of alcohol on their breath or skin, glazed or bloodshot eyes, being unusually passive or argumentative, and/or deterioration in appearance or hygiene. Other symptoms of intoxication include flushed skin and memory loss. There are many risks that are being taken when involving alcohol. One of the main risks is getting alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning is the potentially fatal result of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. It is caused by alcohol slowing down the body 's functions (for example, breathing, heart rate, and gag reflex), thereby potentially leading to choking, coma, stopped breathing, stopped heart, and death. Treatment involves getting the person to the hospital immediately so he or she can be closely watched by medical professionals, given oxygen and fluids, and so that other measures can be taken in order to prevent choking, as well as stopped breathing or heartbeat. Family risk factors for teenagers developing drinking problems include low levels of parent supervision or communication, family conflicts, inconsistent or severe parental discipline, and a family history of alcohol or drug abuse. Individual risk factors include problems managing impulses, emotional instability, thrill-seeking behaviors, and perceiving the risk of using alcohol to be low. Girls who drink, as well as teens who begin drinking prior to 14 years of age and those whose mothers have drinking problems, are more likely to develop alcoholism. Teen risk factors for alcoholism differ a bit between the 14- to 16-year-old and 16- to 18-year-old age groups, in that 16- to 18-year-olds tend to be less likely to drink in excess when they