Drinking has many consequences for everyone. If abused, you can risk the health and safety of both yourself and others. For teens, the repercussions of alcohol use are even greater. There could be many reasons why a teen would want to drink, from peer pressure to stress. No matter the reason why teen drinking is a dangerous activity.
If you are worried that your teen has been drinking and may have a substance abuse disorder, then they must receive treatment as soon as possible. Contact Insight Into Action Therapy at 703.935.8544 to learn about our teen substance abuse treatment center.
5 Dangers of Teen Drinking
The dangers of teen drinking extend beyond the individual who is drinking. It also affects their loved ones and their peers. Knowing how dangerous drinking can be can help deter your teen from drinking and reduce their want to drink.
1. Putting Others in Danger
When you are under the influence, your cognition is impaired. You may not be fully aware of your actions and therefore put others in a dangerous situation without realizing it. A common way that people are put in danger is drinking and driving.
2. Effects on Brain Development
Adolescence is a very important time for brain development. Alcohol consumption can cause you to lose memories and makes it harder to form new memories. It can also affect your motor skills, making everyday activities difficult to do.
3. Hiders Education
By spending too much time drinking, you are not focusing on important matters, such as studying and getting your schoolwork done. You might even have trouble during school if you have a substance use disorder, as your mind will have trouble focusing.
4. Harms Social Life
The dangers of teen drinking also have an impact on your social life. Your teenage years are a great time for socializing and joining clubs or sports teams. You can take part in so many activities, but if you instead spend your time drinking, you will miss out on fun experiences with your friends and peers.
5. Decreases Mental Health
Teenagers already deal with a lot of stress that can lead to anxiety or depression. Regular consumption of alcohol can increase your chances of developing mental health disorders and exacerbate the symptoms.
Signs of Teen Drinking
Knowing the signs of a substance use disorder can help you get the treatment you or your teen needs to recover quicker. Like adults, every teen is different and might show different signs that they have become dependent on alcohol. Some signs to look out for are:
- Social withdrawal – Not wanting to spend time with friends or family or spending more time alone
- Poor school performance – Their grades might start slipping, or they may have trouble focusing in classes
- Spends time with a new group of friends – Spending time with people who might have a bad influence on them
- Defensiveness – Not wanting to talk about their problems or getting angry when you bring up concerns
- Lack of self-care – No longer taking care of their basic needs, such as bathing, washing clothes, etc.
If you suspect that your teen is showing any of these signs, it is important to get them into treatment as soon as possible to get the professional help they need.
Discover Teen Substance Abuse Treatment at Insight Into Action Therapy
It can be very scary to watch your teen suffer from substance abuse. At Insight Into Action Therapy, we can make sure that they receive the care they need and that they will live a healthy and sober life. To get information on our programs, contact us at 703.935.8544.
