Does Alcohol Abuse or Just in General Alcohol Damage Teenage Brains?
Question by Static: Does Alcohol abuse or just in general Alcohol damage teenage brains?
Very intrigued into this, I often believed that only in cases of alcohol abuse by underage’s that alcohol could have a damaging effect on them, or is it any alcohol at all that they intake that causes damage to the brain. It seems incredibly unlikely that it would be just any alcohol and that a teenager would have to be a frequent drinker for it to begin to have a serious effect on the brain but I’d like some enlightenment shed to me on this topic and some information put forward
Thanks in advance
Static
Best answer:
Answer by M K
It’s an over simplification to say it simply damages the brain more so than an adult’s. What the real problem is, is that it retards the growth and development and hinders the plasticity of the young brain. This basically means that by 26 (when our brains finally stop developing) that a teenager that abused alcohol will have an underdeveloped brain and reduced learning capacity, as well as reduced knowledge from the time drinking.
Now, by how much completely depends on the person, the gender (males can handle alcohol about 30% better than females,) their weight, metabolism, their health besides, their diet, their genetics, etc.
As far as at what point, the general consensus seems to be anything past one shot a day (or one beer) can begin to hinder/hurt a teenagers growth/brain development. Now of course for some, it may be a very very low percentage in overall reduction of quality. Like I said, it depends a ton on each individual…for some, especially an anemic, 90 lb female… half a beer might be enough to hinder her development in some way.
Answer by Trisha
Alcohol is not the best thing when used in excess or frequently. While there is a greater risk of damage not only to your brain but to all of your organs with larger and frequent amounts of alcohol, any long term use can cause irreparable damage. There are studies that show small amounts of wine in older adults may help them stay healthy. But there is a reason that the legal drinking age is 21. People do not tend to finish developing until after this age. So any amount of alcohol is detrimental to a still developing brain. I will find some citations for this later on today and write another post if possible.
Oregon Healthy Teen Survey reports teenage drinking as biggest concern
Alcohol continues to be the number one drug abused by teens, according to a 2013 statewide survey, with other substances lagging far behind. However, a new community coalition is being contemplated to curtail alcohol abuse among Klamath County youth.
Read more on Herald and News
Find More Teenage Alcohol Abuse Information…