Slang terms: Booze, Sauce, Brews, Brewskis,
Hooch, Hard Stuff, Juice Get the Facts:
Alcohol affects your brain. Drinking
excess alcohol leads to a loss of coordination,
poor judgment, slowed reflexes, distorted vision,
memory lapses, and even blackouts.
Alcohol affects your body. Alcohol
can damage every organ in your body. It is absorbed
directly into your bloodstream and can increase
your risk for a variety of life-threatening
diseases, including cancer.
Alcohol affects your self-control.
Alcohol depresses your central nervous system,
lowers your inhibitions, and impairs your judgment.
Drinking can lead to risky behaviors, including
having unprotected sex. This may expose you to
HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases or
cause unwanted pregnancy.
Alcohol can kill you. Drinking large
amounts of alcohol can lead to coma or even death.
Also, in 1998, 35.8 percent of traffic deaths of
15- to 20-year-olds were alcohol-related.
Alcohol can hurt you -- even if you're
not the one drinking. If you're around people
who are drinking, you have an increased risk of
being seriously injured, involved in car crashes,
or affected by violence. At the very least, you may
have to deal with people who are sick, out of
control, or unable to take care of themselves. Before You Risk It: Know the law.
It is illegal to buy or possess alcohol if you are
under 21.
More facts. One drink can make you fail a breath test. In
some states, people under the age of 21 who are
found to have any amount of alcohol in their
systems can lose their driver's license, be subject
to a heavy fine, or have their car permanently
taken away.
Stay informed. "Binge" drinking means
having five or more drinks on one occasion. About
15 percent of teens are binge drinkers in any given
month.
Know the risks. Mixing alcohol with
medications or illicit drugs is extremely dangerous
and can lead to accidental death. For example,
alcohol-medication interactions may be a factor in
at least 25 percent of emergency room
admissions.
Keep your edge. Alcohol can make you
gain weight and give you bad breath.
Look around you. Most teens aren't
drinking alcohol. Research shows that 70 percent of
people 12-20 haven't had a drink in the past
month.
Know the Signs: How can you tell if a
friend has a drinking problem? Sometimes it's tough
to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If
your friend has one or more of the following
warning signs, he or she may have a problem with
alcohol: What can you do to help someone who has a
drinking problem? Be a real friend. You might even
save a life. Encourage your friend to stop or seek
professional help. For information and referrals,
call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and
Drug Information at 800-729-6686.
Questions & Answers:
Aren't beer and wine "safer" than
liquor? No. One 12-ounce beer has about as much
alcohol as a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor, a 5-ounce
glass of wine, or a wine cooler.
Why can't teens drink if their parents
can? Teens' bodies are still developing and
alcohol has a greater impact on their physical and
mental well-being. For example, people who begin
drinking before age 15 are four times more likely
to develop alcoholism than those who begin at age
21.
How can I say no to alcohol? I'm afraid I
won't fit in. Remember, you're in good company.
The majority of teens don't drink alcohol. Also,
it's not as hard to refuse as you might think. Try:
"No thanks," "I don't drink," or "I'm not
interested." Published By: Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administrations, U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services Source: alcoholscreening.org/learnmore/teens.asp
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