Teen Drinking Creates Lasting Health Risks

Over the last few years, several studies have only confirmed what addiction treatment specialists have suspected for a long time: that young people who drink alcohol are much more likely to suffer from alcoholism as adults. During our youth, for better or worse, we set patterns of behavior that can be particularly difficult to break. We carry these things into our adult years, and even as we change, remnants of our early years of self-discovery always remain, both psychologically and physically. That’s why it’s important to address teen drinking as early as possible.
Risks of Teen Drinking
One study in particular showed that out of kids who start drinking by the age of 14, nearly half develop alcoholism later on in life. That’s a pretty high rate and a major cause for concern. In contrast, among individuals who don’t start drinking until they’re at least 21 years of age, only 9 percent go on to develop alcoholism. The difference between these two figures is startling.
To put it simply, the younger a person begins drinking habitually, the more likely it is she or he will go on to develop lifelong recurring problems. In other words, if you start drinking at 14, you’re much more likely to become an alcoholic than someone who starts at 18. And if you start at 18, you’re much more likely to develop alcoholism than someone who starts at 21. After age 21, the risk begins drop considerably.
People who start drinking early are also more likely to suffer multiple bouts of alcoholism throughout the course of their lives. They also tend to display a wider range of symptoms, and their problems are deeper and more serious. Among people who start drinking after age 21, those who develop alcoholism tend to have less difficulty overcoming the problem.
Finally, teen drinking has a high association with other drugs. Alcohol tends to serve as a gateway to illicit drugs like marijuana, cocaine, or opiates. Teen drinkers are also more likely to smoke cigarettes. All of this adds up to a dangerous lifelong pattern of addiction and substance abuse.
What This Means
A separate study has shown that, in places where people are legally allowed to drink prior to the age of 21, there are higher rates of alcoholism. This obviously justifies the legal drinking age of 21 that is in place in many countries.
However, as we all know, kids are more than capable of getting their hands on illegal substances. So we must do more than just set a legal drinking age. It’s also important to monitor our kids’ behaviors to look for signs of teen drinking.
Of course, one or two incidents of drinking may signal nothing more than typical youthful rebellion. But when a teen is caught drinking multiple times and goes on doing it, that’s a strong sign that he or she is predisposed to alcoholism. Another warning sign is depression, as addiction, including alcoholism, and depression often go hand-in-hand among people of all ages.
And if you do find that your teen has a drinking problem, it’s absolutely essential to get them treatment as soon as possible. Detox and rehab are often called for, and it’s also a good idea to enter the teen in long term therapy and to have him or her join an alcoholism support group.