decreased planning and organizational skills.Moderate consumption of alcohol may cause the following temporary effects: 2020, Accessed 24 July 2021.Share on Pinterest Moderate consumption of alcohol may cause a depressed mood, loss of inhibition, and sleepiness.Īs soon as alcohol enters the bloodstream, it changes how the brain functions. “Alcohol Use & the Developing Teenage Brain | McLean Hospital.”, 20 Aug. “The Effects of Drinking on the Teenage Brain.”, Jan. It’s up to all of us to ensure both teens and parents alike are educated on the effects of alcohol on the teenage brain. Parents can be armed with knowledge around underage drinking, and avoid wanting to be the “cool parent” or falsely believing they are providing a safe environment. The toxic nature of alcohol wreaks havoc on the growing structures of the brain and can have negative effects on mental health. Simply put, the teenage brain should not be exposed to alcohol. The younger an individual begins consuming alcohol, the more likely they are to develop an addiction. A major issue with this notion is the likelihood to develop an addiction due to young age. Unfortunately, parents mistakenly allow youth to consume alcohol in their presence because they believe they are “safer” at home, under their supervision. This allows for youth to gain access to their parents’ supply of alcohol. Sometimes, it is unintentional, with improper storage of alcohol. Parents/older relatives are often the source of alcohol for underage youth. “I’d Rather They Drink Safely at my House.” There are also mental health-related issues related to underage alcohol consumption, such as anxiety, depression, increased stress levels and more. These are only the physiological effects on the teenage brain. In fact, studies show that early drinking translates to poor performance on tests of memory, attention, and spatial skills. The hippocampus is also very sensitive to the effects of alcohol. It’s a critical region for transforming new information into lasting memory. Alcohol affects this developing prefrontal cortex and can lead to riskier behavior in teens and as alcohol changes the development, it can lead to issues into adulthood.Īnother structure of the brain, the hippocampus, is involved with memory and learning. The prefrontal region undergoes major changes during adolescence. For example, the prefrontal cortex allows us to stave off the urge for immediate gratification in favor of longer-term goals. It is responsible for weighing risks versus rewards. The prefrontal cortex is located behind the eyes and is often referred to as the executive control center. The frontal lobes, which include the prefrontal cortex, control what most of the rest of the brain does. Underage drinking and the effects on the teenage brain are often highlighted, but what exactly is going on in the teenage brain? While that question may seem impossible to answer, especially for parents, delving into the science of the brain will reveal the answer. Studies also show that alcohol significantly impairs learning and memory in teens. The CDC reports that excessive underage drinking is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths among individuals each year. It’s Not Rocket Science… It’s Neuroscience! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol is the most commonly used and misused drug among young people in the United States. A substance that the teenage brain is especially vulnerable to is alcohol. These years are crucial for proper development and any decisions made within this time frame will affect the structural development of the brain and cognitive growth. The teenage body and mind are in the process of substantial development. The teenage years are a wondrous, unforgettable time, as the body is going through radical (and sometimes awkward) changes.
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