Alcohol Dependence Among Adolescents

Alcohol consumption among adolescents remains a dominant public health concern. Alcohol use is statistically common for adolescents and is interrelated with a broad range of morbidities and mortalities.

The three most chronic causes of mortality amongst adolescents are inadvertent injuries (in fatal automobile crashes, for example), homicide, and self-annihilation.

The statistics denote that although alcohol is not essentially the direct or the lone reason of these outcomes, elevated levels of alcohol use are common in the occurrence of these mortalities. This needs rapid intervention.

Teenagers become obsessed with many substances faster than adults and they also turn to a variety of stuff at once unlike and adult who will normally favour one over the others.

Adolescents are more vulnerable to the affects of alcohol than adults; the nervous system is still maturing and the greatest changes to the parts of the brain that are responsible for functions such as self-control, judgment, emotions, and organisation actually take place between pubescence and adulthood.

Which also explains why teenagers are often explosive,irrational and reckless in their behaviour. It behooves us as parents to understand brain development to assist us to comprehend many reasons our children react as they do to situations. It is not simply to be awkward or demanding for the most part.

The frontal lobes help put the constraint on a craving for thrills and taking risks -- a building block of adolescence; but, they're also one of the final regions of the brain to develop fully. In calm situations teenagers can rationalise just as well as adults; however any stress will prevent this.

Adolescents are more vulnerable to the affects of alcohol than adults; the nervous system is still maturing and the greatest changes to the parts of the brain that are responsible for functions such as self-control, judgment, emotions, and organisation actually take place between pubescence and adulthood.

Which also explains why teenagers are often explosive,irrational and reckless in their behaviour. It behooves us as parents to understand brain development to assist us to comprehend many reasons our children react as they do to situations. It is not simply to be awkward or demanding for the most part.

The frontal lobes help put the brakes on a craving for thrills and taking risks -- a building block of adolescence; but, they're also one of the final regions of the brain to develop fully. In calm situations teenagers can rationalize just as well as adults; however any stress will prevent this.

It is completely unfair of the significant adults in a childs life to treat them as if they are stupid and incapable if their brain has yet to fully develop to allow them to possess the organization and planning skills we have in adulthood. Is it any wonder they turn to and are influenced by their peers during this phase?

A young person’s alcohol use is also connected with an broad array of health threatening behaviours and morbidities, together with increased sexually risky activities (and associated sexually transmitted diseases), co - occurring mental health disorders, and a substandard quality of school work. Furthermore these teenagers who tend to abuse alcohol are more likely to have family problems and psychological disturbances which are not conducive for communication in any family; never mind a teenager going through puberty which results in them becoming even more distant and results in a higher possibility of homicide.

A family is often unaware that a teenager is dependant on alcohol and they may get extremely defensive when they are faced with the probability that the family unit is dysfunctional in some way and may in actual fact be the root cause of their child's alcohol problem.

The family has essentially become the safe haven for the child's wrong doing as they are allowing them to escape the consequences of their actions by making excuses for their unusual behaviour possibly even making them the victim in the situation purely to take the attention of the real problems within the home. Many parents may simply believe it is teenage rebellion rather than a more serious issue they are dealing with. These are a few of the signs to look for.

Symptoms of alcohol abuse in teens

1. lying,
2. breaking curfew
3. verbally or physically abusive toward others
4. making excuses
5. smelling like alcohol
6. mood swings
7. stealing
8. blood shot eyes
9. persistent cough
10. fatigue/lethargy
11. slurred speech
12. lack of concentration
13. frequent headaches / nausea
14. socially isolating themselves from family
15. problems at school/failing grades
16. depressed mood
17. irritability / quick fused
18. secretive

The good news is that addiction treatment can be successful in most adolescents, even when it is far advanced. The issue requires fast intervention once discovered. However it is unwise to treat the adolescent's chronic alcoholism, and then place him right back in a family system that could promote relapse. Family therapists support the complete family and individual member to make positive lifestyle changes that lead to a happier and more functional environment.

PREVENTION

What keeps children alcohol-free? Children who have a strong bond with their parents are to a lesser extent likely to drink. Children whose parents appoint clear rules and expected values are less prone to use alcohol. Children whose parents discipline them when they break the rules are also less probable to use alcohol. It is your responsibility as a parent to develop a secure and healthy relationship with your teenager, let them know you are always there for them under any circumsatnces, let them know they can call you at any time, enlighten them to the dangers of alcohol and be a good role model for them.

A teenager raised in a home that alcohol plays a frequent part in will be more likely to see this behaviour as acceptable. If weekend parties where drink is easily accessible and the behaviour gets loud and uncontrolled is viewed positively by their parents then they will emulate this.

Parents “Realize you need to have both accountability and support in your relationship with your adolescent,” Hoffmann said. “Make sure that it’s not just about controlling their behavior -you need to combine knowing how they spend their time away from home with a warm, loving relationship.”

The importance of parental support cannot be underestimated. Never be afraid to ask for help. You will not help your child if you allow them to manipulate you, you will only encourage a much larger issue later in life.