The health effects of teen alcohol use

there has been many studies conducted on the health effects of both short_term and long-term use of alcohol among adults. long-term risks include liver damege, pancreatitis, certain cancers,and literal shrinkage of the brain. Alcoholuse is the second leading cuase of dementia; one simpleages quicker on alcohol. But professionals today are worried about a steady increase in teen alcohol abuse and the possible negative health effects. Alcohol and young people there was a general rise in the proportion of 11 to 15 year olds who drink alcohol regularly, but also there is an increase in the amount they are drinking on each occasion. Adolescence is a transition time when the body is undergoing many significant changes, such as hormonal alterations and brain development. It is also a time when young people start to associate more with friends and associates beyond their childhood contacts. They feel an increased pressure to fit in or go along with the crowd in order to be accepted socially. These new circumtances can be confusing and difficult for the youth to understand and deal with. often their ability to make correct or safe decisions is also at a stage of immaturity. Exposing the brain to alcohol during this period may interrupt key processes of brain development, possible leading to mild cognitive impairment as well as to a further escalation of drinking. Drinking and driving: motor vehicle crashes are the leading cuse of death among youth ages 15 to 20. The rate of fatal crashes among alcohol involved drives berween 16 and 20 years old is more than twice the rate for alcohol involved drivers 21 and older. suicide: alcohol use interacts with conditions such as depression and stress to contribute to suicide,the third lading cuase of death among people between the ages of 14 and 25. in one study, 37 percent of eighth grade females who drank heavily reported attempting suicide, compared with 11 percent who did not drink.