Preview

Alcohol and the average teen

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2657 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Alcohol and the average teen
Alcohol

The effects of alcohol on the human brain Many teens today face the situation of alcohol and alcohol abuse. Although we cannot make their choices for them, we can persuade them into not taking alcohol by knowing the risks first; a lot like warnings on smoke packages. Alcohol can have a big affect on the adolescent mind. The brain of a an average human being keeps developing to the age of adolescence; people believe that the brain stops developing at the age of adolescence, but in fact, the brain develops into the early 20's. At the age of adolescence, the brain goes under remodelling and rewiring. The underdeveloped brain of an adolescent can suffer irreversible brain damage and may have long lasting effects on the brain. That is why there is an age limit of 19 in Canada and the age limit of 21 in the United States. Many side effects of drinking alcohol are: slurring of words, memory loss, difficulty walking, blurred vision, slow reaction times, dehydration, blackouts(being unconscious) and even death. Alcohol is a dangerous thing a teens should not take the risks.
Long term effects of alcohol

unintentional injuries: car crash, falls, burns.e.t.c intentional injuries: firearm injuries, sex assault and domestic violence increase on the job injuries and loss of productivity increase of family and relationship problems alcohol poisoning high blood pressure, stroke and other heart diseases liver disease nerve damage sexual problems permanent brain damage mouth and throat cancers

Short term effects of alcohol slurred speech drowsiness vomiting diarrhea coma blackouts unconsciousness blurred vision and hearing problems breathing difficulties
After drinking alcohol, many people experience difficulty to walk, unable to gain balance, motor control, timing and awareness. This is because your body will not completely absorb all of the alcohol; some of it will travel into the brain and into your cerebellum. Your

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In society, more young people are drinking in excess that is severely dangerous. The effects of a young adult drinking underage are that it can lead to diseases that are severe and chronic to the body such as kidney failure, liver failure, alcohol poisoning and even death. These health problems could could have long term chronic illnesses and damage with expensive treatments such as surgery and medication. Raising the age limit prevents less young people to have health problems that are influenced by alcohol. According to the National Institute On Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH), “In this and similar studies (21,22), memory problems were most common among adolescents in treatment who had experienced alcohol.”(NIH). In this quote, the studies have shown that young people who drink in excess have difficulties in their brain. Part of their brain is damaged that controls their memory. Their memory loss can be permanent or temporary. This health issue of memory loss and forgetfulness can be very serious. If the drinking age limit is twenty one, then more young people will have less severe consequences in health issues such as brain damage in memory…

    • 783 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The question of reparations addresses the problem of distributive justice delivered to black American’s for the better time frame of 250 years, through slavery and post slavery. The facetious idea that for all Americans equal opportunity, social and economic benefits along with protection of the law to be a principle of justice for all, was only if you shared the virtue of not being black.…

    • 292 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Many young people are drinking at an early age which shown it’s a public health problem in this country. Approximately five thousand underage die a year due to drinking. Research shows drinking at an early age can lead into alcoholic. Other research shows younger children drinking are more likely to be engaging in behaviors that harm themselves and others. Research believes, “Increasing the age at which people can legally purchase and drink alcohol has been the most successful intervention to date in reducing drinking and alcohol-related crashes among people under age 21.” The difference between an adult brain and a maturing binge brain who can consume more alcohol then the adult is more likely to experience negative consequence such as a hangover. The health risk is that in the long run it may impact on long term thinking and memory skills. A higher minimum drinking age can help reduce crashes and save lives, especially younger drivers. They’re two individual-focused interventions called; “School-Based Prevention Program-…” and “Family-Based Prevention Programs-…” are programs to show underage shouldn’t be drinking and the effects of it which teaches them not to be drinking. Underage drinking is dangerous to the society.…

    • 3084 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The US Federal Trade commission educated us about underage drinking by: Alcohol consumption can interfere with development of the young adult brain's frontal lobes, essential for functions such as emotional regulation, planning, and organization. When alcohol consumption interferes with this early adult brain development, the potential for chronic problems such as greater vulnerability to addiction, dangerous risk-taking behavior, reduced decision-making ability, memory loss, depression, violence, and suicide is greater (2010).…

    • 365 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are many problems among teens, however some are becoming more serious than others. Some of these predicaments can cause long term effects for our future generation in numerous ways. One of the main issues among teens is underage drinking. The outcome from this issue may be critical not only for our teen but also for our communities. Some consequences caused from underage drinking are alcohol addiction, medical problems, and accidents.…

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    For example, The brain damage sustained when a nine year old drinks alcohol regularly is indisputable and causes irreparable damage. The age is very particular, and the drinking age should not be too low or the brain damage could harm future generations. From around 16 or 17 years old and younger, both the cognitive restraint and physical brain are not developed enough to allow for proper judgment when it comes to when or when not to drink. Furthermore, the views on brain damage are true when it comes to excessive drinking everyday, which leads to alcoholism. Studies show that young teenagers and children are much more susceptible to alcoholism than young adults. Lastly, the fact that restraint is not a trait many young teenagers are known for is true. Thirteen and fourteen year olds cannot be trusted to drink responsibly, and the argument can be made that even 17 year olds can be irresponsible when it come to their…

    • 1744 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    It's no secret that alcohol consumption can cause major health problems, including cirrhosis of the liver and injuries sustained in automobile accidents. But if you think liver disease and car crashes are the only health risks posed by drinking, think again: Researchers have linked alcohol consumption to more than 60 diseases.…

    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To start off, the consumption of alcohol can and will cause significant physical damage to the body and mind. This is in the interest of alcohol being absorbed into the bloodstream, which affects the central nervous system and has such an immense control over all body functions. A human brain has not fully developed until the age of 25, which is why the legal drinking age should not be at the age of 21. It gives off harmful alterations in the functions of the development of the brain and therefore doesn’t give the brain the full amount of time that it needs to grow. While the brain is still developing, drinking a heavy amount may cause damages to certain brain functions and have lasting health effects. Some examples to body functions that can…

    • 293 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Drinking Age Raised

    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol can severely affect the development of adolescent brains. Alcohol is particularly harmful to pubescent teens. Research shows that the adolescent brain develops mostly between the ages of 12-24, in this time period if alcohol is absorbed it can harm the brain development. Professor Ian Hickie the executive director of Sydney’s University of Brain and Mental research institute has stated ‘New research in neuro-science tells us that the brain continues to develop right through until the late teenage and early adult period, Particularly in young men it may not reach adult maturity till the mid twenty’s’ in saying all this, raising the drinking age would be an effective way to help to carry out the full development of adolescents and young adults brains. This is just one of the many reasons that the alcohol legal age should be lifted to twenty-one years.…

    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Since the human brain is still developing until about the age of twenty-five, drinking heavily while underage could affect the drinker’s brain (Alcohol’s). Excessive drinking can lead to damaging nerve cells in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning. Underage drinking can also lead to a smaller prefrontal lobe, which is the area of the brain that changes the most and is responsible for decision-making, language, and judgement (Binge Drinking). The damage that is caused by drinking while underaged would be much worse than it is currently if the minimum legal drinking age is lowered because many more people whose brains are still developing would be able to drink…

    • 1333 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    There are many dangers about underage drinking. In many cases alcohol has lead to fatal car crashes. One-third of all drivers ages 21 to 24 who died in a car crash had a blood alcohol level that was over the legal limit. Drinking can cause major brain damage. The brain is still developing, drinking underage may cause lasting impairments in brain functions such as memory, coordination, and motor skills.…

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Legal Drinking Age

    • 1088 Words
    • 5 Pages

    There have been many researches that prove alcohol is harmful to one’s health. Some major short term effects of alcohol are impaired vision, bad judgment, loss of coordination, and causes sleepiness. Alcohol has been proven to worsen one 's decision making and judgment as he or she consumes more and more (Marsden). Almost 7 million kids between the ages of 12 to 20 were binge drinkers in the year 2000 (Drug…

    • 1088 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    And in high doses, or binge drinking, it can also cause vomiting, difficulty breathing, alcohol poisoning, and comas.…

    • 740 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Drinking Age Debate

    • 725 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Research has shown that compared with the adult brain, the adolescent brain is very sensitive to some effects of alcohol. Teenage brains are like a sponge, and are designed for maximum learning capacity. Alcohol interferes with the brain, it causes difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction times, and impaired memory. Those are only the external impairments. Internally, it can lead to lifelong damage in brain function, particularly as it relates to memory, moving skills and coordination. Not only can alcohol hurt adolescents physically, but psychologically as well. An article from Psychology Today states, "The CDC study confirms that teens aren't sipping alcohol --- no, they’re gulping it. This study brings light to the fact that high school students tend to binge drink whenever they consume alcohol. About ninety percent of the alcohol consumed by high school students is consumed through…

    • 725 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Brain and liver damage is the number one effect alcohol will have on your body. Difficultly walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction time, and impaired memory are all affects on the brain. Cirrhosis of the liver is developed after a decade of heavy drinking. Cirrhosis is the scarring of the liver tissue that result in blocked blood flow and impaired liver function. It is the number one cause of death in a chronic alcoholic. Over a period of time you can also developed digestive problems. Alcohol inflames the stomach lining causing a condition called gastritis. This problem has the ability to prevent absorption of essential vitamins, which is necessary for good health. When alcohol damages the pancreas, it can no longer produce certain enzymes that are important in digesting proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Your metabolism is also affected when the pancreas is damaged by heavy drinking. There is also affects on other organs as well. High blood pressure and damage to heart muscle can be present by alcoholism. This puts you at risk of suffering a stroke or having a heart attack. Kidney disease has been known to develop in people that consume excess amounts of alcohol. Someone who is an alcoholic and abruptly discontinues the use of alcohol they can have severe symptoms that include convulsions, hallucinations, seizures, shakes, and in more intense cases heart failure leading to…

    • 909 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays