Effects of Alcohol Use on the Underage Body

Adolescence is a time when the brain and body go through many major changes, as they do not develop fully until the mid-20s. Studies show that the areas of the brain that control decision-making, judgment, impulse control, planning, memory, and motor coordination develop during adolescence. The regular use of alcohol and other drugs can interfere with this process and can lead to irreparable, life-long brain damage and intellectual impairment.

Effects of Alcohol Use on Underage Bodies

Frequent drinking can also cause damage to the body’s major organs and drastically increase the risk of alcohol abuse and addiction.

Breathing and Heart Irregularities

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. If used in small amounts on an irregular basis, the effects of alcohol use on underage bodies are generally mild. As alcohol works to depress brain activity more and more with each drink, certain areas of the brain are affected, which leads to a decline in functioning. Part of the brain stem referred to as the medulla oblongata controls basic functions, including cardiac and respiratory system regulation. When the medulla oblongata is depressed due to excessive alcohol consumption, an individual’s heart rate and blood pressure can drop to dangerous levels and breathing declines.

Brain, Heart, and Liver Damage

Drinking too much can take a serious toll on your health and well-being. Alcohol can interfere with brain communication pathways, affecting the way the brain works and looks. These disruptions in brain activity can make it difficult to think clearly and move smoothly, as coordination is impaired. Drinking frequently over an extended period of time can also affect the heart. Cardiomyopathy (stretching of the heart muscle), stroke, arrhythmias (irregular heart beat), and high blood pressure are all serious risks. Heavy drinking can also wreak havoc on the liver, causing inflammation and other problems. Individuals who drink frequently are at risk for steatosis (fatty liver), fibrosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis.

Poor Logic and Reasoning Skills

Alcohol can have almost immediate effects on the brain and body, and it doesn’t take much to feel these effects. Drinking only one to two alcoholic beverages can cause impaired memory, blurred vision, and slowed reaction time. It takes only two to four drinks to reach the legal limit for blood alcohol content. When the blood alcohol level reaches 0.06 percent, reaction time, judgment, logic, and reasoning skills become impaired. When blood alcohol levels reach 0.09 percent, hearing, vision, and balance are all greatly affected. Alcohol can also alter emotions, making it more difficult to concentrate and stay in control of your environment.

Altered or Exaggerated Mood

Alcohol can quickly alter and exaggerate moods, making an individual feel sad, depressed, angry, excited, happy, or a combination of intense emotions. Alcohol can also be used to express, mask or avoid feelings. The effects of alcohol use on underage bodies’ mood are often unpredictable. An individual can be in a particular mood one moment, and after a few drinks, their mood can completely change. Alcohol affects the neurons in the brain and the way that these neurons respond to chemicals in the brain, often resulting in a change of mood and behavior. The mood that you were in before you started drinking can also have an impact on your mood and behavior while drinking.

Increased Risk of Alcohol Addiction

In a social situation, it’s not always easy to see when you’ve crossed the line from moderate drinking to a drinking problem. Alcohol abuse and addiction can gradually build if the signs and symptoms are not promptly recognized. Alcohol addiction is caused by various factors, including genetics, your emotional health, and your social environment. Individuals who suffer from mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder, are at a higher risk of alcohol abuse. It’s important to understand that if drinking is causing problems in your life, you may have a drinking problem.

Give us a call today at 855-631-2135 to learn more about alcohol abuse and rehabilitation.

By Michelle Conway