ALCOHOL AND YOUTH

1. ALCOHOL AND YOUTH

2. ALCOHOLISM • Long-term alcohol abuse may lead to “alcoholism”. • Alcohol use remains a major public health problem among youth. • People that begin drinking alcohol at a young age are more likely to become alcoholics.

3. Why do young people drink ALCOHOL? To forget things? To feel sexy? To look cool? To have fun? To look older? To relax?

4. Children begin to develop an awareness of alcohol at a very early age through: • Television • Advertising • Their family • Their community

5. Why do young people drink ALCOHOL? • Family example • Family attitudes • Family relationships • Peer example • Peer pressure • Social status • Societal attitudes • Alcohol advertising • Lack of other interests

6. They may also drink to: • Celebrate special events (exam results, birthdays, Debs); • Feel more confident; • Relax; • Reduce stress (exam stress, relationship pressures); • Cope with sadness, unhappiness, rejection or low self-esteem; • Rebel; • Get drunk!

7. Negative effects depend on a number of factors including: • Type and quantity of alcohol consumed • Age, weight and gender • Body chemistry • Food in the stomach • Drinking experience • Situation in which drinking occurs • Mental health status • Other health conditions made worse by alcohol I’mnot feeling well!!

8. Negative effects • Heart damage • High blood pressure and stroke • Liver disease • Cancers of the digestive system • Other digestive system disorders (e.g. stomach ulcers) • Sexual impotence and reduced fertility • Increasing risk of breast cancer • Sleeping difficulties

9. NEGATIVE EFFECTS • Brain damage with mood and personality changes • Concentration and memory problems • Nutrition-related conditions • Risks to unborn babies • Stop bones and muscles from growing well • Impacts on relationships, finances, work, and may result in legal problems • Careless/dangerous behaviours

10. Common signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse • Repeatedly neglecting your responsibilities at home or school • Using alcohol in situations where’s physically dangerous • Experiencing repeated legal problems • Continuing to drink even though your alcohol use is causing problems in your relationships • Drinking as a way to relax or de-stress

11. Signs and symptoms of alcoholism • Tolerance • Withdrawal (anxiety, tremor, sweating, nausea/vomiting, irritability, depression, headache, loss of appetite, sleeping difficulty)

12. Signs and symptoms of alcoholism • You’ve lost control over your drinking. • You want to quit drinking, but you can’t. • You have given up other activities because of alcohol. • Alcohol takes up a great deal of your energy and focus. • You drink even though you know it’s causing problems.

13. Five myths about alcoholism and alcohol abuse • “I can stop drinking anytime I want to.” • “My drinking is my problem. I’m the one it hurts, so no one has the right to tell me to stop.” • “I don’t drink every day, so I can’t be an alcoholic.” OR “I only drink wine or beer, so I can’t be an alcoholic.” • “I’m not an alcoholic because I’m doing well at school.” • “Drinking is not a “real” addiction like drug abuse.”

14. Unfortunately most people don´t admit they have an addiction. weblogcartoons.com

15. COOL? DEFINITELY NOT!

16. REFERENCES • http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/15b1ce004fe3d6969e1fbe03541ce8ed/What+is+alcohol+%2800501%29-DASSA-April2014.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=15b1ce004fe3d6969e1fbe03541ce8ed (What is alcohol?) • http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/alcoholism-and-alcohol-abuse.htm (Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse)