Adolescents tend to drink if the adults around them drink or binge drink alcohol. Read about the mental health challenges facing teenagers at Healthline and Psych Central’s Youth In Focus series, which shares useful tips, resources, and support. Underage drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States. Alcohol is the most widely used substance among America’s youth and can cause them enormous health and safety risks. If you suspect that someone is experiencing an alcohol overdose, call 911 for help immediately.

Age, sensitivity to alcohol (tolerance), gender, speed of drinking, medications being taken, and amount of food eaten recently can all be factors. Alcohol overdose occurs when there is so much alcohol in the bloodstream that the areas of the brain controlling basic life-support systems—such as breathing, heart rate, and temperature control—begin to shut down. Excessive alcohol use can harm people who drink and those around them. You and your community can take steps to improve everyone’s health and quality of life. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Additionally, the NIAAA notes that people who start drinking before age 15 are more than three times as likely to develop AUD as an adult than people who waited until age 21 to start drinking.

For more information about alcohol’s effects on the body, please see the NIAAA Interactive Body. Adolescents typically have an increased desire to experience new things, but experimenting with alcohol is not a good idea. If you’re worried about your teen using alcohol, it may be tempting to take an extremely strict approach or overemphasize the risks of alcohol use. Recognizing AUD in teenagers isn’t always easy, but it can be the first step in offering them the support they need. If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. If you do have any of these symptoms, then alcohol may already be a cause for concern, and a conversation about alcohol use with a professional is recommended.

With that said, some research suggests that people who drink alone as teenagers are likely to develop AUD as adults. AUD is a condition where a person is addicted to alcohol or unable to control their alcohol use. When someone drinks frequently, their body becomes dependent on alcohol. Formerly known as alcoholism, alcohol use disorder (AUD) can affect people of all ages.

If you or someone you know is having an emergency, call 911 immediately. See the following for information on what to do if someone is having an alcohol overdose (also called “alcohol poisoning”) and for resources to access for a mental health emergency. However, it is still important to know how alcohol affects your health, how to identify signs of a problem, and where to get help. Facts About Teen Drinking is a resource for teens, created by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, with research-based information on underage drinking. If you need suicide- or mental health-related crisis support, or are worried about someone else, please call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat with Lifeline to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

The more we know about how relapse prevention and the five rules of recovery alcohol affects the adolescent brain, the more we can inform the conversations about alcohol that we have with teens. The percentage of pure alcohol, expressed here as alcohol by volume (alc/vol), varies within and across beverage types. Although the standard drink amounts are helpful for following health guidelines, they may not reflect customary serving sizes.

Brain and Mental Health

Although binge drinking can have negative health consequences, not all people who binge drink are necessarily addicted to alcohol. Lastly, people who start drinking earlier in life have a higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder later in life. As adolescents mature, they undergo complex developmental changes, especially in their brains. The widespread changes in the organization and functioning of alcohol and mirtazapine the brain—which continue into a person’s mid-20s—bring about the cognitive, emotional, and social skills necessary for adolescents to survive and thrive.

The nature of these rapid changes may also increase the adolescent brain’s vulnerability to alcohol exposure. Underage drinking doesn’t automatically mean your teen has AUD. Either directly or indirectly, we all feel the effects of the aggressive behavior, property damage, injuries, violence, and deaths that can result from underage drinking. This is not simply a problem for some families—it is a nationwide concern. The Trevor Project is a leading national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth.

Alcohol is the most common drug young people use

A large cup of beer, an overpoured glass of wine, or a single mixed drink could contain much more alcohol than a standard drink. The consequences of underage drinking can affect everyone—regardless of age or drinking status. NIAAA has information about alcohol use, alcohol use disorder, and treatment options. Also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service, this helpline provides 24-hour, free, confidential treatment referral and information about mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery in English and Spanish. Counseling for adolescents may use different techniques and often places much greater emphasis on family therapy.

Terms of Service apply.

In adults, drinking alcohol impairs decision-making and impulse control, and can lead to a range of negative consequences. For adolescents, drinking alcohol can make it even more difficult to control impulses and make healthy choices. In both adolescents and adults, drinking also compromises the ability to sense danger by disrupting the function of a brain region called the amygdala. Alcohol often produces rewarding feelings such as euphoria or pleasure that trick the brain into thinking the decision to drink alcohol was a positive one and that motivate drinking again in the future. Young people who drink alcohol are more likely to engage in risky behaviors that can lead to injuries and other health conditions. They’re also more likely to experience social, academic, and legal issues.

1. See the following for information on what to do if someone is having an alcohol overdose (also called “alcohol poisoning”) and for resources to access for a mental health emergency.
2. Don’t play doctor—cold showers, hot coffee, food, and walking do not reverse the effects of alcohol overdose and could make things worse.
3. Alcohol-induced blackouts are gaps in a person’s memory for events that occurred while they were intoxicated.
4. AUD is a condition where a person is addicted to alcohol or unable to control their alcohol use.
5. Excessive alcohol use can harm people who drink and those around them.
6. However, it’s still a good idea to reach out to them — regardless of the cause of their behavior, they may need guidance and support.

Do not wait for the person to have all the symptoms, and be aware that a person who has passed out can die. Don’t play doctor—cold showers, hot coffee, food, and walking do not reverse the effects of alcohol overdose and could make things worse. If you or a friend are struggling with alcohol, know that you can take control and recovery is possible.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), about 3.4% of US teenagers ages 12 to 17 have AUD. Parents and teachers can play a meaningful role in shaping what does flakka smell like youth’s attitudes toward drinking. Parents, in particular, can have either a positive or negative influence. Having only a couple of symptoms—which you might not consider trouble signs—can signal a drinking problem.

Screening youth for alcohol use and AUD is very important and may prevent problems down the road. Screening by a primary care provider or other health practitioner (e.g., pediatrician) provides an opportunity to identify problems early and address them before they escalate. It also allows adolescents to ask questions of a knowledgeable adult. NIAAA and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend that all youth be regularly screened for alcohol use.