Binge Drinking Teens - Coursework Example

Binge Drinking Teens Binge Drinking Teens One of the most serious issues faced by the society is binge drinking, which is most common in teenagers. Statistics show that binge drinking may be the cause of serious injuries in many high school and college going students and many of them are dying from it. Binge drinking has been identified as a health hazard for the school and college going teenagers. For men, binge drinking can be defined as taking 4 or more drinks in a row; however for women it is defined as 3 or more drinks in a row. The standardized drink in this case can be defined as a can or twelve ounce bottle of beer or wine. One of the identified reasons that has influenced binge drinking in teens is the accessibility of alcohol, as anybody can have it with little or no effort if they want to (Lohmann, 2013). Alcohol consumption among the college students is common, although it may vary from student to student and campus to campus. However many high school and college going students, their parents as well as their administrators accept alcohol as the normal part of a student’s life. Research suggests that around 80 percent of the college going students consume alcohol, whereas 40 percent of them are engaged in binge drinking. However many of these teenagers are not aware of the fact that the negative consequences of alcohol abuse are particularly pervasive and serious. It has been estimated that around 1,700 of the college going students aged between 18 to 24 die every year from alcohol related injuries, such as vehicle crashes. Around 600, 000 college and high school going students are also unintentionally injured, while being under the influence of alcohol. It has been estimated that 700,000 students were assaulted by their classmates or other students due to alcohol and about 100,000 of them are the victims of date rape and sexual assault (All about binge drinking, 2014). In addition to the common signs such intoxication, there are some more signs exhibited by teens who abuse alcohol. These signs are usually characterized as lying frequently or making excuses, hiding in their rooms, breaking the curfew, mood swings, becoming physically or verbally abusive towards others, exhibiting poor hygiene, stealing, feeling ill frequently, changes in friends, changes in sleep patterns, etc. The teenagers who are involved in binge drinking are at an increased risk of negative health effects, as their brain, organs and mental capabilities are still under development (Teenage binge drinking could cause mental health problems in adulthood: Study, 2010). Binge drinking may also result in emotional problems in teenagers such as depression and anxiety. With time the severity of these emotional problems may also increase. Research suggests that an eighth grader who drinks about 4 to 5 times a day is more likely to attempt suicide than the one who do not drink at all. Such teenagers are more likely to suffer from depression than their non-drinking peers (Binge Drinking, 2013). The teen drinkers are also at an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, depression, violence and social problems. According to the report submitted by the Health service Administration, about 39 percent of the teens that are involved in binge drinking exhibit some kind of serious behavioral problems and about 31 percent of them may also suffer from extreme psychological distress. The regular consumption of alcohol can only be associated with higher level of hyperactivity, aggressiveness and attention deficit disorder. Study also proves the children who start consuming alcohol at an early age are more likely to develop problem with alcohol. Such teens are more likely to be involved in unprotected sex, engage in dangerous sexual activity or have sex with strangers (Duka, 2008). They are also at a high risk of teen pregnancy, sexual assault and STDs. It has been reported by around 40 percent of the teens that they stoned or drunk when they experienced their first sexual intercourse. After binge drinking, about one of the seven teens have had unprotected sex or had intercourse that they later regretted. About one of the every ten teenagers was unable to remember that if they had slept with anyone. They also have low academic performance and also have high dropout rates. Such teens also score worse on vocabulary, memory test and visual-spatial than their other non-drinking peers (Conrod & Natalie Castellanos, 2008). As children step further towards their young adulthood, they do encounter some dramatic emotional, physical and lifestyle changes. The development transitions such as increasing independence and puberty have also been linked with the use of alcohol. So just being an adolescent may be considered as a risk factor for initiating to drink but also for binge drinking. Research suggests that the development of brain that takes place in the twenties helps in establishing important communication connections and it also refines the functions further (Morrow, 2013). Researchers believe that this extended development phase may help to explain certain behaviors in teens that are considered to be the characteristics of adolescence such as inclination of seeking out potentially dangerous situations. Most of the teenagers think that thrill-seeking might take into account experimenting with alcohol. These development changes offer possible psychological explanation for why the teenagers act so impulsively through this phase, not recognizing the seriousness of their actions such as drinking (Ballie, 2001). The way people view alcohol and its effects may influence their alcohol behavior as well, including the fact that at what age they start to drink and how much do they drink. The teenagers who view binge drinking as a pleasurable experience may drink more than the ones who do not. A crucial area of alcohol research may include focusing on how expectancy impacts the drinking patterns of children when they are moving from adolescence to adulthood. It has been observed that the beliefs regarding alcohol are almost established in the early phase of life, before the children begin their elementary school. Before the children turn 9, they view alcohol negatively and outlook drinking as a habit that imposes negative effects on health. However by the age of 13, their views about drinking shifts and they become more positive. The teenagers who drink the most are the ones that emphasize on the arousing and positive effects of alcohol (Sarah, 2013). The differences between the brain of adults and that of the maturing adolescents help to elaborate that why many teenager drinkers like to consume larger amount of alcohol than the adults, before they experience negative consequences associated with drinking such as lack of coordination, drowsiness and hangover effects. Such unusual tolerance also helps in explaining the higher rate of binge drinking found in teenagers. However the teenagers may appear sensitive to positive effects associated with drinking such as the feel of being at an ease in social situations; therefore the teenagers nowadays are more into binge drinking than adults because of the positive social experience (Johnstona & Whitea, 2003). Studies also suggest that these difference found in the brain wave may be evident in teenagers who possess certain behavioral characteristics such as anti-social personality disorder, poor impulse control, sensation seeking, conduct disorder etc. In addition to health problems and risks, binge drinking also impact the social life as well as the self-esteem of the teenagers, as they find themselves doing thing that they would not have done if they were sober (Chassin & Pitts, 2002). Investigating that how the structure and functions of brains translates to behavior will help in understanding and identifying the pre-drinking risk factors which later shape the alcohol abuse. For example, it is significant to know that does the teenager who is depressed drink for the purpose of alleviating his or her level or depression or is it binge drinking that lead to changes in certain parts of the brain that makes the person feel depressed. The other hereditary factors will also become evident as the researchers are working to identify the genes involved in alcohol addiction. By analyzing this genetic makeup of teenagers and their families with alcohol addiction, the researchers have identified some specific regions present on the chromosomes that associate with the risk for alcoholism. The further research conducted also shed light on how different genes contribute to the alcohol problems, in adults as well as teenagers (Binge Drinking, 2012). The children of alcoholic parents have 10 times more chances of becoming alcoholics themselves, as they began drinking at an early age and develop therefore develop drinking problems more quickly. Research suggests that such children may have elusive brain difference that may mark the development of alcohol problems in future. Researchers have identified by using some advance brain imaging techniques that such children have only one distinctive feature in one of the brainwave pattern, which is usually considered as an indicator for the later alcoholism risk (Binge Drinking, 2014). The researchers are also trying to identify some other brainwave differences found in the children of alcoholic parents, which may be there before they even start drinking. For this purpose they are investigating the activity of the brainwave during sleep, as well as the changes that occur in the functions and structures of brain (Kelly, 2009). The teenagers, who begin to drink at an early age of 13, often share certain similar personality traits, which influence them to start drinking. The teenagers who are hyperactive, disruptive and aggressive may be anti-social or have some conduct problems, also the ones who are withdrawn, anxious or drunk are at the greater risk of developing alcohol related problems. Other behavioral problems that can be associated with alcohol abuse in teenagers include rebelliousness, finding difficult to avoid any kind of harm or harmful situation. Such characteristics are also visible in people who act without respecting the feelings of others. The psychological and behavioral factors that increase or decrease the risk associated with a person’s alcohol problems include tolerance towards the effects of alcohol that may derive its link from the genetics. For example if your parents are alcoholic or you have several alcoholic people in your family that chances of developing alcohol problem in that person may me much greater (The Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Teens, 2009). When people are drunk it also affects their judgment to a great extent as they may end up having unwanted or unprotected sex which lead them to STIs or unplanned pregnancy. The teenagers may also feel embarrassed about their actions and they may also end up losing their loved ones and friends as the result of their behavior. They also lose their money by spending it recklessly on the alcohol, which they may need later as at such an age they may not have a stable mean of income (Consequences of Underage drinking, 2013). There are several long term effects of regular binge drinking found in teenagers. They may become psychologically as well as physically dependent on the alcohol, which cause significant damage to the liver and brain. They are at a higher risk of cancer of pharynx, larynx, liver, esophagus, colon, rectum, liver and breast. Binge drinking may also increase the risks of heart problems, neurological problems and sexual problem (such as male impotency) in teenagers. They are also at a risk of developing mental and emotional health problems such as anxiety and depression and face problem in relationships, at work and also in school (Alcohol Alert-Under Age Drinking, 2006). Due to the increased risk in teens of irreversible brain damage and cognitive impairment associated with binge drinking, there is a need of taking urgent actions. Some evidence is present which indicates that the interventions carried out by employers such as life-style and health checks, peer referrals and psychosocial skills training has been effective in reducing the level of binge drinking in teens (Borsari & Carey, 2000). In some countries brief motivational intervention has also been effective in reducing the future binge drinking in teens. The hangover that is the result of binge drinking may also have some adverse effects on the performance of teens. One episode of binge drinking may result in significant impairment of the teen’s memory. It is observed that the physical performance of the athletes involved in binge drinking is negatively affected during the hangover. The absenteeism related to hangover and poor job performance has cost USA economy about $148 billion in the present year. In many countries the teenage binge drinking may also be linked to impaired social and mental development, decreased in academic performance and increased in school drop-out (Botvin, Griffin, Diaz, & Ifill-Williams, 2001). The teens who misuse alcohol may certainly benefit from the interventions that are aimed towards reducing the risks associated with alcohol abuse. In more severe cases intervention including the psychotherapist, family members and friends is also recommended. Another effective approach of intervention for teens whose binge drinking habit has led them to hospitalized, is to hold a brief intervention at the hospital that is based on 3-4 session and each session must not be more than 30 minutes. Such sessions must be conducted by train staff. The strategies used for reducing the risk associated with binge drinking may include increasing the information and awareness of the public regarding the hazards of binge drinking, conducting interviews from individuals that have been suspected of any sort of harmful pattern, or trying to persuade them to accept the counseling services and attend the counseling session based on youth drinking habits (Wechsler & Nelson, 2001). Alcohol is a drink that is widely promoted throughout the society. The teens who are engaged in this dangerous behavior are not only putting their lives at stake but that of others too. Homicides, suicides, drunken driving accidents and other minor and major injuries have also attributed to alcohol use. The teenagers who begin binge drinking at an early age have increased chances of developing alcohol dependency. It is important that we begin to educate the teenagers about the dangers associated with binge drinking and promote preventive measures in order to ensure that they understand the seriousness of the consequences associated with alcohol use. Alcohol is widely available as one can grab a bottle of beer or wine with little or no effort at all. The use of alcohol is regarded as normal by most of the families in the western society. Yet still underage drinking is considered to be a dangerous not just for the drinker but for the society as a while, as the statistics put light on the involvement of alcohol in homicides, suicides, vehicle crashes and in other minor and major injuries. The teenagers who start consuming alcohol at an early age possess a greater risk of developing serious health problems like alcoholism in their later life. They may also be at a greater for a number of adverse consequences such as poor academic performance and risky sexual activities. Identifying the teenagers who are at a greater risk may help in stopping these problems before they develop and may also help to determine some comprehensive approaches to prevention, showing success in the reduction of experimentation with alcohol. References Alcohol Alert-Under Age Drinking. (2006). Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA67/AA67.htm The Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Teens. (2009). Retrieved from Casa Palmera: http://casapalmera.com/the-effects-of-alcohol-abuse-on-teens/ Teenage binge drinking could cause mental health problems in adulthood: Study. (2010). Retrieved from News Medical: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20101116/Teenage-binge-drinking-could-cause-mental-health-problems-in-adulthood-Study.aspx Binge Drinking. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/health-relationships/binge-drinking Binge Drinking. (2013). 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