Alcohol and Adolescents

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Alcohol and Adolescents
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http//www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrink
ing/educatorguide.pdf
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Adolescents and alcohol use
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Why do youth choose to drink?

• Peer pressure
• Risk-taking behavior associated with adolescence
• Decreased parental supervision / greater
  independence
• Increased stress

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Effects of alcohol on adolescents

• Increases risk-taking behaviors
• Decreased academic performance
• May lead to drug use
• Health risks
• Brain development

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Alcohol and brain development

• Teens brain more easily damaged by alcohol than
  an adults brain
• More likely to have significantly lower mental
  abilities
• Decrease ability to learn
• Hippocampus is smaller
• Loss of motor skills

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Binge drinking

• For males 5 drinks in one sitting
• For females 4 drinks in one sitting
• Those who binge drink
• 10x more likely to drink and drive
• Get lower grades
• 40 black out as a result of drinking
• 30 have unplanned sex as a result of drinking
• 30 have argued with friends as a result of
  drinking
• Harvard School of Public Health

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Alcohol advertising

• Research clearly indicates that alcohol
  advertising and marketing also have a significant
  effect by influencing youth and adult
  expectations and attitudes, and helping to create
  an environment that promotes underage drinking.
  (Center for Alcohol Marketing and Youth,
  2010)
• Adolescents do not feel that advertising has an
  effect
• But studies show that the brain reacts
  differently in drinkers than non-drinkers.
  (Why21.com)

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Prevention Programs

• Encourage school involvement
• Parents, teachers, role models communicate!
• Provide alcohol-free opportunities
• Know the risks
• Enforce the laws