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For a girl it is not unusual for the
first supplier to be the boy with whom she is involved (Dakof, 2000). Another difference that may affect treatment has to do with teens’
responses to anger. Girls are more likely to turn anger inward,
while boys direct their anger toward others.

Research shows that kids whose parents or friends’ parents provide alcohol for teen get-togethers are more likely to engage in heavier drinking, to drink more often, and to get into traffic crashes. Remember, too, that in almost every State it is illegal to provide alcohol to minors who are not family members. In marked contrast to these few enhanced alcohol sensitivities, adolescents have been shown in animal studies to be notably less sensitive than adults to a variety of other alcohol effects – many of which seemingly serve as cues to help regulate intake. Animal studies have also shown adolescent rats to be less likely to display certain “hangover” symptoms during the post-intoxication recovery period than adults, including hangover-related increases in anxiety (Varlinskaya & Spear, 2004).

The dangers of underage drinking

Mental-health professionals should not minimize the approach to those who have experimented with alcohol, since infrequent use can progress to the more serious stages of alcohol use if not addressed. Therefore, professionals recommend that the youth be thoroughly educated about the effects and risks of alcohol, that fair but firm limits be set on the use of alcohol, and that the user attend brief counseling, a self-help group, and/or a family support group. If you’re a child or teen and are worried about your own or a friend’s drinking, it’s important to reach out to an adult you trust. If you don’t feel you can talk to a parent, reach out to a family friend, older sibling, or school counselor, for example, or call one of the helplines listed below.

Having one or more risk factors does not mean that your child definitely will develop a drinking problem, but it does suggest that you may need to act now to help protect your youngster from later problems. When you disapprove of one of your child’s friends, the situation can be tougher to handle. While it may be tempting to simply forbid your child to see that friend, such a move may make your child even more determined to hang out with him or her. Instead, you might try pointing out your reservations about the friend in a caring, supportive way.

een Treatment: Addressing Alcohol Problems Among Adolescents

You can also limit your child’s time with that friend through your family rules, such as how after-school time can be spent or how late your child can stay out in the evening. In fact, you’re likely to have a greater impact on your child’s decisions about drinking by having a number of talks about alcohol use throughout his or her adolescence. Think of this talk with your child as the first part of an ongoing conversation. For many parents, bringing up the subject of alcohol is no easy matter.

Staff should be trained to understand
adolescent development and respond appropriately to the challenges
that adolescents present. Good programs are based on an
understanding of gender socialization and the cultural background of
the patient. National guidelines for staff training to understand
the developmental needs of teens should be developed. Nationally
recognized guidelines for ensuring the safety of adolescent
patients, particularly females, also should be developed.

Underage Drinking and Teen Alcohol Use

Those problems can include needing more alcohol to get intoxicated (tolerance), difficulties that occur when the effects of alcohol wear off (withdrawal), using more alcohol or for a longer time than intended, and other life problems because of the use of alcohol. Teens’ bodies are less able to process alcohol so they have a tendency to get drunk quicker and stay drunk longer than older drinkers. And since underage drinkers haven’t yet learned their limits with alcohol, they’re at far greater risk of drinking more than their bodies can handle, resulting in an alcohol overdose or alcohol poisoning when they binge drink. Mixing drinks, doing shots, playing drinking games, and natural teenage impulsiveness can all contribute to binge drinking and increase a young person’s risk for alcohol poisoning. Remind your teen that underage drinking is illegal and that they can be arrested for it. Your teen should also understand that drinking alcohol comes with specific consequences.

• But whatever difficulties you’re facing at the moment, there is help available and there are healthier, more effective ways of resolving them.
• Out of $116.2 billion spent on
  alcohol in 1999, $22.5 billion was estimated to have come from underage
  consumers (Foster, Vaughan,
  Foster, and Califano, 2003).
• Underage drinking can have serious implications that may not show up until later in your child’s life.
• Instead, talk to your teen about the effects drinking can have on their appearance—bad breath, bad skin, and weight gain from all the empty calories and carbs.
• Your goal should be to discourage further drinking and encourage better decision-making in the future.

CBT is very structured; for example, an objective is established and
each session is used to monitor the mood of the individual, connect
treatment from session to session, discuss problems, and provide
training in coping strategies and skills to deal with problems. CBT often includes
motivational interviewing to engage individuals in the treatment
process (Liese and
Najavits, 1997). CBT has been extensively researched,
particularly as part of the federal Cannabis Youth Treatment study
(Dennis et al., in
press) and the Adolescent Treatment Model study (Perry et al.,
2003). Overall, the prognosis for alcoholism can be positive with early intervention, effective treatment, and ongoing support.

By getting to know their friends, you can help to identify and discourage negative influences. And by working with their friends’ parents, you can share the responsibility of monitoring their behavior. Similarly, if your teen is spending too much time alone, that may be a red flag that they’re having trouble fitting in. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ As disturbing as it can be to find out that your child or teen has been drinking, it’s important to remember that many teens try alcohol at some point, but that doesn’t mean they automatically have an abuse problem. Your goal should be to discourage further drinking and encourage better decision-making in the future.

• Addiction experts, including those at the CDC, urge parents and caregivers to educate kids about the risks of using drugs alone.
• But as people drink more, they might become drowsy, lose balance and coordination, slur speech and think more slowly.
• In
  addition, many programs do not address all of the numerous factors that
  affect the adolescent’s environment, including peer groups, the juvenile
  justice system, and the community.
• Trying to talk to a teen about drinking when they’re watching their favorite show, texting with their friends, or in the midst of a heated argument with you about something else isn’t going to be productive.