Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: November 2006
Originally reviewed by: Eugene Shatz, MD
After reading this article on how bad drinking during our teenage years is, I felt really convinced. The article talks about how much alcohol affects our brain and nervous system, which leads to future problems if you start drinking early.
It first starts off explaining to us readers what exactly is alcohol: which is "created when grains, vegetables, or fruits are fermented." It is a natural product, but it causes many side effects that could affect us in the future. One example shown in the article is how much fatter a teenage drinker will be in his adulthood than a teenage nondrinker in his adulthood.
The article then moves on to explaining how it affects us; specifically, our central nervous system. The picture on the right (taken from the article itself), shows how much activity a nondrinker has in his/her brain compared to a drinker's brain."Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows the function of the central nervous system. Alcohol actually blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. This alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing."
"More alcohol causes greater changes in the brain, resulting in intoxication."
So why exactly do teenagers drink in the first place, knowing that they are underage, and that it damages their body in many ways? The article explains that some teenagers may drink, due to curiosity, to relieve their stress, or just so that they could fit in with their cliques and friends. It continues to say why we should not drink and use these reasons as excuses.
In my opinion, I agree with the writer of this article. Firstly, drinking is bad for health. It causes many bad side effects, as seen in adults who drink. What more us? The effects that occur in us will definitely be much much more, as it is written in the article, that our brain still develops during our teenage years. Drinking would damage our brain, causing a drop in our grades, and sporting abilit.
Secondly, it is illegal to drink underage. Taking that risk just to satisfy that curiosity of how good drinking is is just not worth it. The punishment would be severe. You may also get addicted to it, and it ruins lives just like drugs do if you get over addicted to it.
And when addiction is just too much for you, your situation just gets worse. Admit that you are in trouble, and seek help immediately. I feel that you should not delay getting this problem solved, as it is very serious. Do not tell yourself that you can control it, as eventually, you know that you can't. Talk to an adult or seek counseling.
Just like smoking and taking drugs, it is something that we must not be tempted to try, or suffer the many consequences that would surface.
