Alcohol & Teens
One major issue that teenagers face today is that of underage drinking, consuming alcohol under the legal age limit. Not only could starting to drink alcohol at an early age lead to alcoholism, teenagers also face lowered inhibitions, leading to bad decisions that could affect them for the rest of their life.
Underage drinking leads to numerous health risks from the direct consumption from alcohol, as well as from the side effects. Due to lowered inhibitions of underage teens drinking, teens can participate in detrimental activities such as unsafe sex, drunk driving and using drugs.
The effect that alcohol has on a developing brain could be permanent, as teen brains are still growing and maturing. Consistent underage drinking can lead to long-term future impairment. Young adolescents are also at higher risk of liver damage and other hormonal imbalances. Adding alcohol into the various changes that are going on in a body during puberty can throw of the development of a teen's reproductive system, muscles and bones.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported in 2010 that 51.8 percent of American youths aged 12 or older report being current drinkers. With so many teens drinking alcohol at such a young age, how can parents properly combat this epidemic?
Curbing Teen Drinking
Parents should set limits and consequences should their teenager drink. The parents must clearly convey that drinking underage is not acceptable and should they engage in such behavior, they will be punished accordingly.
Keeping tabs on any alcohol in the house would be advisable; to make sure that your teenager isn't drinking in the house. If your teenager is drinking away from the house, a good tactic would be to stop giving out money to them. Make sure that the teen understands that as parents, you will not condone their drinking and that other family members won't as well.
It is quite possible for teenagers to develop alcohol related issues, which requires plenty of support to work through. As parents, it is very important to love and encourage your teenager, so they have the strength to say no to underage drinking. Building a teenager's self-esteem also allows them to handle problems in life properly, instead of turning to alcohol for relief.
If your teenager continues to drink, it may be time to consider a more serious intervention, since as a young adult; they will soon be making major life decisions. If they can't make good life choices on their own, they will need professional guidance in order to get back on track.
Turning Winds Academic Institute offers an innovative therapeutic program that will attempt to help the individual with alcohol issues. A fully accredited institute by the Northwest Accreditation Commission and the National Independent Private Schools Association, TWAI has a first-class experienced clinical team that leads one-on-one and group therapy sessions, while touting a diverse collection of teachers. Plenty of personal attention will be given to each teen, to ensure proper progress.
