Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Teens: Effects
Is there any way to predict if a young person will begin drinking? Certain factors definitely place young people at increased risk for underage alcohol use and abuse, including:
- Family Situation:The drinking practices of other family members highly influence a young person’s alcohol use patterns. Marital conflict, poor parental supervision, physical or sexual abuse, and even a lack of an open or nurturing relationship with parents can also contribute to youth drinking.
- Societal & Community Conditions: Underage drinking is frequently portrayed on television and in movies by role models who explicitly or implicitly convey the message that alcohol consumption is harmless. Easy access to alcohol - either at home or through local retail establishments – encourages use and abuse.
- Peer Pressure: The single most highly-associated risk factor for adolescent alcohol use is influence exerted by a teen’s social group. Teen decision making is affected by situations with heightened social or emotional overtones, thus they are more likely to place themselves at greater risk when around their peers.
- Individual Factors: Children of alcoholics are four to ten times more likely to become alcoholics themselves. Common adolescent personality traits such as rebelliousness and alienation spur alcohol use. Depression and anxiety are also risk factors because some individuals use drinking as a coping strategy for dealing with emotional problems. Smoking is also a significant risk factor for drinking. Studies have shown that consuming tobacco and alcohol together heightens the pleasure users experience from either drug alone in a process called “mutual craving.”
