Drunk Teenagers: Prevention Strategies That Can Help Teens Feel Supported
Underage drinking is highly prevalent in the United States, and it can have serious repercussions for teens’ physical and mental health. In 2023, it was reported that approximately 3.3 million young people between the ages of 12 to 20 reported having engaged in binge drinking at least once over the past 30 days. Despite years of public programming about the dangers of alcohol for teens, many teens continue to drink at dangerous levels. In some cases, this may be related to ineffective messaging that turns teens away instead of making them feel supported. Here, we’ll explore the dangers of teenage drinking and discuss prevention strategies that may make teens feel both supported and adequately informed.
Drunk teenagers: Underage drinking statistics
The following are some statistics related to teen drinking in the United States:
- According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 33.1% of youth aged 12 to 20 (12.6 million individuals) reported having tried alcohol.
- The NSDUH found that approximately 19.9% of youth ages 14 to 15 reported having tried alcohol.
- According to the NSDUH, 27.9% of youth aged 12 to 20 (10.6 million individuals) reported having drunk alcohol in the past year.
- Each year, 1,345 people under age 21 die in a car accident involving an alcohol-impaired driver.
- Each year, approximately 649 suicides of people under age 21 involve the use of alcohol.
The dangers of drinking alcohol for teens and young adults
Alcohol can have serious health effects on people of all ages, but teens may be at particular risk given their phase of development. Teens typically undergo significant intellectual and cognitive changes in this time of life, and early drinking may affect these processes. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “More and more research suggests that drinking alcohol in adolescence may have significant effects on brain function. The earlier people start drinking alcohol, the more likely they are to experience a measurable impact on cognitive functions, memory, and school performance over time—perhaps even into adulthood.”
Alcohol can also affect the liver, and the earlier a person begins drinking, the greater their risk of liver problems tends to be. Other organs and systems that can be affected by alcohol consumption include the pancreas, the heart, the lungs, the gastrointestinal system, and the immune system.
Adolescent binge drinking—or drinking large amounts of alcohol over a short period of time—can be especially dangerous. When teens engage in binge drinking, they may be at risk of alcohol poisoning, which typically requires urgent treatment as it can be fatal in some cases.
How can drinking affect teen mental health?
Alcohol can also have an impact on a teenager’s mental health. While many people believe that alcohol relieves stress and anxiety, this effect tends to be temporary. Alcohol can actually worsen anxiety when consumed in large quantities, an effect some people refer to as “hangxiety.” This may lead teens to feel nervous or jittery the day(s) after a heavy drinking session. Alcohol can also lead to poorer sleep quality, which could increase anxiety too. Plus, if teens drink frequently, they may also be at risk of developing alcohol use disorder (formerly referred to as alcohol abuse disorder).
Also, alcohol can lead to problems with relationships. Both teens and adults sometimes regret things they said or did while under the influence of alcohol. Some people also might not remember what happened while they were drinking, which can increase anxiety and lead to conflict.
Also, teens who are already living with a mental health condition may experience more symptoms when they drink alcohol. Note as well that alcohol may interact with some medications that a teen might be taking for a mental illness, leading to potentially serious complications.
Drinking-prevention strategies that may resonate with teens
For many years, parents and educators have provided teens with information on the dangers of alcohol. However, many teens continue to consume alcohol at dangerous levels. One reason is that sometimes, messaging about alcohol prevention may not resonate with young people. They might find it to be judgmental and unrealistic, especially given that many teens have parents who drink alcohol.
Parents and educators might find that they can get through to teens more effectively if they communicate with transparency. Parents who drink alcohol might try having an open conversation with their teens about their own drinking. Also, parents might find that their teens are more receptive if they ask them to call or text them for a ride if they ever feel in danger because they or someone else has been drinking. This strategy may help teens understand that their parents are not trying to be controlling or judgmental but are truly concerned for their safety.
Therapy to help parents of teenagers
Given the many potential stressors of caregiving for an adolescent, parents of teens may benefit from connecting with a licensed mental health professional. A therapist may be able to offer strategies for communicating with teens about alcohol and other substances in a way that doesn’t make them feel judged. Therapists can also typically address parental stress and any mental health conditions that caregivers may experience.
Online therapy for parents
Some parents of teens might not have time to regularly commute to and from traditional in-person therapy. Others might prefer to speak with a therapist from outside their local community. In such cases, parents may benefit from using an online therapy platform.
With BetterHelp, parents can be matched with a therapist from anywhere in the country. They can also communicate with their therapist in a way that’s comfortable for them, such as via phone call, video call, live chat, or a combination of these modalities. With BetterHelp, parents also have the option of reaching out to their therapist at any time through in-app messaging, and their therapist will respond as soon as they’re able to. Research suggests that online therapy can often be as effective as in-person therapy.
Takeaway
Teen drinking can have serious repercussions for physical and mental health. Parents might be able to protect their teens from the dangers of alcohol by having open conversations about drinking in a way that makes them feel supported. If you’re a parent of a teenager, you may benefit from speaking with a therapist about strategies to prevent alcohol misuse in your child or to manage your own stress levels or mental health.
What are some of the risks that drunk teenagers face?
When teenagers drink alcohol, their judgment can become impaired. As a result, they might engage in risky behavior that they normally wouldn’t engage in due to altered judgment, such as drug use or unprotected sex. Teenagers who binge drink are also at risk for alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal.
Does drinking alcohol interfere with any mental health conditions in teens and young adults?
Alcohol may make symptoms of mental health conditions worse. While teens and young adults may think that alcohol helps relieve anxiety, it can often exacerbate it. Also, alcohol may interfere with some medications for mental health conditions.
How can adults help prevent underage drinking?
Parents and guardians may be able to help prevent excessive drinking in young people by talking openly about it to their teens and adolescents. This is in line with the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This campaign encourages parents to talk openly about alcohol and other substances, as many adolescents and teens really do listen when parents broach this topic. Parents might be able to prevent their teens from harm by talking openly about a plan in case they are ever experiencing peer pressure or in immediate danger, such as if someone in their friend group has been drinking and is tempted to drive home drunk.
What are some evidence-based prevention strategies?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a variety of community strategies may help reduce teen drinking. For example, communities can help by limiting teen exposure to alcohol ads. Exposure to alcohol ads at a young age may make teens more likely to drink.
How does stress affect alcohol use?
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, trauma or stress may increase a person’s risk of developing alcohol use disorder. Other risk factors may include genetics and a family history of drinking.
How do mental health conditions affect alcohol use?
Having a mental health condition may increase a person’s risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD often co-occurs with disorders like anxiety and major depressive disorder.
What role do schools play in preventing underage drinking?
Schools play a role in helping kids learn healthy habits, rules, and behaviors. They can teach students about the challenges associated with taking risks like becoming intoxicated at parties or drinking large amounts of liquor to improve mood or have a fun night. Some schools may create interventions like fake drunk-driving crash scenes acted out to show children what can happen when driving drunk. Others might provide a course on the risks of even small amounts of alcohol in a health education class. These courses can educate and inspire kids to make healthy choices based on what research shows about underage drinking and brain development.
What is the root cause of underage drinking?
In general, children and teens often drink due to the desire to fit in with peers. Other teens may recommend drinking, pressure their friends, or get upset when someone refuses to drink. Drinking is often seen as “cool” in certain social circles, so teens may believe they “have to” drink to maintain respect in their social groups. To reduce this influence, parents can work on finding social communities and extracurricular activities for teens that support healthy anti-violence and holistic community to avoid getting into situations where they could go to the emergency room or get in trouble with the law. Other parents might consider after-school activities or other ways for teens to party and have fun without using alcohol.
What are three good places to look for help when someone is struggling with underage drinking?
If your teen has been struggling with underage drinking in the past month, they may benefit from substance misuse resources, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which has no age restrictions for meetings. However, parents may want to attend AA meetings with their teens to protect them, as adults will be present. Therapy can also be a helpful tool for exploring teens’ underlying urges to drink and reasons why they might struggle to stop. You can also look for support groups online or in your area.
What are two strategies to prevent underage drinking?
Below are two strategies for preventing underage drinking:
- Peer-led education and support: Teens respect their social groups more than authority, so including social groups to reduce drinking may encourage them more than only asking them not to drink. For example, peer counseling programs and peer accountability programs can be helpful.
- Therapy: A therapist can support a teen in understanding their underlying reasons for drinking and the mental health impacts of substance use.
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