Teen Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol is the most commonly used drug by teenagers and while the percentage rates of use vary it’s easily the most accessible drug available to teens and the most popular as well. It’s popular because of it’s easy usability and how many people can provide teens with access to it and it’s also viewed as a bit of “gateway” drug - teens can begin experimenting with alcohol and then they often turn to heavier and more dangerous drugs as they progress which can turn into addictions, abuse, and other serious behaviors. Alcohol is also one of the most common causes of death related to teens and it’s very common for teens to drive after they’ve been drinking.

There are many causes that can lead to a teen abusing alcohol. Many of these are related to family environment at home along the lines of low or no supervision, a lack of a support network, a history of alcohol or drug abuse in the family, health and wellness problems and emotional issues as well. Typically if a teenager begins to display behavior such as lying, breaking curfew, being abusive towards others, smelling like alcohol, mood swings, stealing, or drastic changes in friends it’s often a sign of a growing use of alcohol or perhaps peer pressure from friends to do so. If these kinds of behavior are allowed to progress it can lead to alcoholism, other forms of drug abuse, and even alcohol poisoning, which can prove to be fatal.

The best thing a parent can do to prevent a teen from starting to abuse alcohol is to limit their access to it in the first place. If a teen hasn’t had the opportunity to try alcohol then do your best to keep it that way. Be aware of their friends and their friends homes and take measures to avoid having your teenager spend time unsupervised or in places where they might be given access to alcohol. It’s also wise to pay attention to the types of people they’re spending time with and to help them make choices in friends that will benefit them in the long run. If your teenager has already been exposed to alcohol either by sampling it or through their friends use of it then it’s important to educate them not only on the issues of legality that surround their use of alcohol but also on the dangerous and detrimental effect substance abuse can have on the rest of their entire life.

If you take the time to work in some preventative measures as well as having open and honest discussions with your teenager about the use of alcohol, its effects, and what it might lead to there is a much greater chance that your teen will be able to resist peer pressure and make smart decisions concerning the use of alcohol all on their own. This can prevent a myriad of problems that come with the abuse of alcohol and it can also open up the chance for your teen to trust you and come to you with any questions they might have in the future.