Alcoholism in Teens

By Curtis Reed

Alcoholism is different than alcohol abuse. Some teens will only drink occasionally are able to control their drinking. For some, alcohol can be very addictive. According to NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism), 40% of those who start drinking before the age of 15 meet criteria for alcohol dependence at some point in their lives. For those teens that become addicted, it is a battle they will have to face for the rest of their lives.

Alcoholism is a Disease

Alcoholism is a disease of the family. Not only is there a significant genetic component that is passed from generation to generation, but the drinking problems of a single family member can and most likely will affect all other family members. The family environment and genetics can perpetuate a vicious and destructive cycle. Teenagers who drink heavily are more likely to cut class or skip school, perform poorly in school, take sexual risks, and commit suicide. Heavy drinking increases the chances of delinquent and violent behavior in teens, including running away from home, fighting, vandalizing property, stealing and getting arrested.

Teenagers may exhibit different signs of alcoholism. Some signs may be quite obvious. Others may be harder to see if the teen is skilled in keeping their alcoholism a secret. You know what is normal for your teen, so any behavior that seems out of the ordinary should be watched. The most common signs of alcoholism in teens include withdrawing from others, depression, sleep problems, continuous partying, hangovers, and blackouts. Teenagers will exhibit some of these signs for other reasons, but when they occur together with drinking alcohol, they might have a problem.