| As disheartening as it is to see a shabby weary man | | | | associating alcohol consumption with popularity and |
| lying prostrate on the park bench sleeping off his | | | | success. For this reason education can be a key |
| alcohol intake, a eternally drunken teen is an even | | | | factor in helping to restrain the level of alcohol abuse |
| more tragic sight. | | | | and alcoholism amongst young people. |
| Alcoholism is best understood as addiction to alcohol, | | | | Input from the home and the school can help create a |
| wherein a person has become dependent on alcohol in | | | | more balanced understanding of both the benefits and |
| order to feel right. This sort of dependency takes a | | | | dangers of alcohol consumption. Of course, for |
| period of time to develop, which is why we might | | | | teenagers who are set on to resist the authority of |
| expect to encounter it only amongst mature grown | | | | home and school, educational programs of this kind |
| ups. Gravely though heavy alcohol intake is often part | | | | can have the opposite affect of that was planned, |
| of teenage culture, and enormous amounts of alcohol, | | | | where teenagers will consider their drinking to be a |
| even in the short term, do cause a chemical imbalance | | | | sign of their independence from authority. Ironically of |
| in the brain which can result in alcohol dependency. | | | | course, such rebellion really only shows a subservience |
| Even a seemingly inconsequential amounts of alcohol | | | | to an alternative authority - namely, that of the |
| affects chemicals in the body such as the | | | | advertising magnates who promote alcohol |
| gamma-aminobutyric acids, responsible for inhibiting | | | | consumption. |
| impulsiveness, and glutamate, which stimulates the | | | | As in the case of most dreaded teenage attitude, the |
| nervous system. Excessive drinking decreases the | | | | peer group is often the key. If your teenage son is part |
| body of these chemicals, in the absence of which the | | | | of a peer group that drinks, he will drink too. If he's part |
| body commences to want alcohol. Young bodies may | | | | of strict religious group that never let a drop of alcohol |
| be utterly unprepared for the sort of consequences | | | | pass their lips, you don't have to worry (about alcohol |
| that early-age-onset drinking can . | | | | consumption, at any rate). |
| If a teenager suddenly finds himself or herself in a peer | | | | Of course there are an abundant factors that can lead |
| group where alcohol consumption is the norm, they | | | | a young person to drink excessively, and not every |
| may suddenly attack their system with excessive | | | | teenager who drinks excessively is going to develop |
| amounts of alcohol, even if they have never touched | | | | an alcohol dependency. Genetics will partially determine |
| the smallest amount of liquor up to that point, in order | | | | this, along with other various physical and psychological |
| to gain respect or acceptance from their mates. This | | | | factors. But if there is one straightforward motion that |
| can unmistakably be very harmful to their health. | | | | a parent can do to divert a teenager who is on the |
| Studies suggest that nearly 60% of young people who | | | | way to alcoholism it is this: change his or her . Send |
| take up drinking, do so in order to feel more mature! | | | | them to a different school. Have them move interstate |
| Some will have seen their parents drinking, and will | | | | to stay with your relatives. Send them on a long |
| take up the addiction to become like them. More often | | | | overseas trip. |
| though nowadays young drinkers will either just be | | | | Of course, changing the immediate peer group will not |
| following the group or trying to imitate some other role | | | | always resolve the problem, and depending on the age |
| model - a sporting hero, rock star or gang leader - for | | | | of the teenager, the parents may be powerless to |
| whom hard drinking is a fundamental part of their . | | | | make these sorts of decisions anyway. Remember |
| Obviously image and advertising have a lot to do with | | | | though that regardless of what happens, while there is |
| early-age-onset drinking. Films tend to represent tough | | | | life there is always hope. Even long-term alcoholics find |
| guys as hard core drinkers. The media portrays fun | | | | healing. And countless teenagers with drinking |
| girls as party girls. And obviously the advertising | | | | problems don't turn into alcoholics. |
| companies behind alcoholic beverages work hard at | | | | |