The effects of Underage Drinking

Figure 1:(Sunlight Recovery, 2023)

“Excessive drinking is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths per year among underage drinkers”.  (The council on recovery, 2017) 

In most cases underage drinking is inevitable. Although parents and caretakers might try to prevent it, there is no certainty that they will be successful. That is why an emphasis on its education is important to ensure that we are well informed on the consequences.  

Alcohol is a legal substance that is meant to be consumed by adults, and adults only. In many different countries the legal age differs from 18 to 21. One of the most common reasons for underage drinking is the desire for adrenaline as well as peer pressure. What is meant by peer pressure? In this case it is not the literal pressure, but the need to feel socially included. The use of alcohol in underaged circumstances is extremely normalized and accessible. One of the many ways that teenagers attain it is using fake IDs or asking other adults to buy it for them.  

The effects of alcohol 

When it comes to the consumption of alcohol, there are both immediate and long-term effects. Within these, there are psychological ones which include: drowsiness, relaxation, confusion, and loss of consciousness. The long-term physiological effects could consist of dependency, an increasing risk of anxiety and depression, and brain damage. Alcohol makes it harder for the parts of the brain that control balance, memory, speech, and judgment. And in long-term scenarios, it can even produce a chemical imbalance in our neurons causing alterations in them.   

Moreover, physical side effects of alcohol intake may be immediate, such as slower breathing, slower heart rate, nausea and vomiting, dehydration, and loss of coordination. Some of the longer-term effects include heart problems, liver problems, increased risk of diabetes, cancer, and malnutrition.  

Works Cited 

Brain & Life. “The Effects of Drinking on the Teenage Brain.” Brainandlife.org, May 2019, www.brainandlife.org/articles/how-does-alcohol-affect-the-teenage-brain. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024. 

Sunlight Recovery. “The 5 A’s of Teen Alcohol Use - Sunlight Recovery | Addiction Treatment.” Sunlight Recovery | Substance and Mental Health Treatment in South Florida, 29 July 2023, sunlightrecovery.com/5-as-of-teen-alcohol-use/. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024. 

The council on recovery. “8 Shocking Statistics about Underage Drinking | Council on Recovery.” Councilonrecovery.org, 21 Apr. 2017, www.councilonrecovery.org/8-shocking-statistics-underage-drinking/. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.