BINGE DRINKINGBINGE DRINKING

Impact On Impact On AdolescentsAdolescents

Binge DrinkingBinge DrinkingDefined as drinking at least four drinks in a Defined as drinking at least four drinks in a row for females and five for males on one or row for females and five for males on one or more occasions.more occasions.

Nearly 9 percent of boys and 7 percent of girls ages 12 Nearly 9 percent of boys and 7 percent of girls ages 12 to 17 reported binge drinking in the previous month. to 17 reported binge drinking in the previous month.

Binge drinking: often begins around age 13, tends to Binge drinking: often begins around age 13, tends to increase during adolescence, peaks in young adulthood increase during adolescence, peaks in young adulthood (ages 18 to 22), then gradually decreases. (ages 18 to 22), then gradually decreases.

Among persons under the legal drinking age (12 to 20), Among persons under the legal drinking age (12 to 20), 15 percent were binge drinkers and 7 percent were 15 percent were binge drinkers and 7 percent were heavy drinkers. heavy drinkers.

BINGE DRINKINGBINGE DRINKING

WHEN PEOPLE BINGE DRINK, THEY WHEN PEOPLE BINGE DRINK, THEY TAKE IN ALCOHOL FASTER THAN THE TAKE IN ALCOHOL FASTER THAN THE BODY CAN PROCESS IT.BODY CAN PROCESS IT.

The body can only process ½ ounce of The body can only process ½ ounce of alcohol per hour.alcohol per hour.

Ingestion beyond this time frame will result Ingestion beyond this time frame will result in alcohol intoxication, coma and possibly in alcohol intoxication, coma and possibly death.death.

Alcohol PoisoningAlcohol Poisoning A severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to A severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to

an alcohol overdosean alcohol overdose

When excessive amounts of alcohol are When excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed, the brain is deprived of oxygen. The consumed, the brain is deprived of oxygen. The struggle to deal with an overdose of alcohol and struggle to deal with an overdose of alcohol and lack of oxygen will eventually cause the brain to lack of oxygen will eventually cause the brain to shut down the involuntary functions that regulate shut down the involuntary functions that regulate breathing and heart rate.breathing and heart rate.

Symptoms include:Symptoms include:– Vomiting Vomiting – Unconsciousness Unconsciousness – Cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin Cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin – Slow or irregular breathing (less than 8 breaths a minute or 10 or Slow or irregular breathing (less than 8 breaths a minute or 10 or

more seconds between breaths). more seconds between breaths).

Alcohol poisoning quickly affects bodily functions that sustain life. As a depressant, alcohol affects breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. When people drink too much in a short time, the areas of the brain that control these functions can be sedated—LITERALLY PUT TO SLEEP. If that happens, people can die because breathing mechanisms shut down or people choke on their own vomit.

Underage Drinking can “Program" Underage Drinking can “Program" the Brain for Alcoholism! the Brain for Alcoholism!

Underage alcohol use greatly increases Underage alcohol use greatly increases the risk of alcoholism, according to the the risk of alcoholism, according to the Institutes of Medicine - National Research Institutes of Medicine - National Research Council report "Reducing Underage Council report "Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility." Drinking: A Collective Responsibility."

Start before age 15: Five times more Start before age 15: Five times more likely of developing alcohol likely of developing alcohol dependencedependence than those who begin than those who begin drinking alcohol at age 21.drinking alcohol at age 21.

Here's why: The brain is hard-wired to Here's why: The brain is hard-wired to reward feelings of pleasure so we naturally reward feelings of pleasure so we naturally want to repeat them. Feelings can range want to repeat them. Feelings can range from an intense emotional "high" to a from an intense emotional "high" to a happy sense of satisfaction from doing happy sense of satisfaction from doing something well or for someone else. We something well or for someone else. We remember pleasure from dopamine, a remember pleasure from dopamine, a "feel-good" brain chemical. "feel-good" brain chemical.

Alcohol hijacks the brain's pleasure-reward system by stimulating unusual amounts of dopamine, and other neurochemicals, creating feelings of pleasure from a chemical instead of a natural experience. Because the teen brain produces an abundance of dopamine (compared to an adult), it can rapidly go from liking, to craving, to needing alcohol, thus programming it for alcoholism.

Important Fact:

The adolescent brain differs greatly from that of a mature adult. In fact, research demonstrates that, among other areas of the brain, the thinking part of the brain (Prefrontal Cortex) is not fully developed until age 24. Use of any substance before 24 can delay, and in some studies, stop physical brain maturation!

Alcohol Use Hinders Adolescent Brain Growth and Permanently Reduces Development

Daniel Amen, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist in Southern California, used SPECT scans to show functional activity levels in the brain of a healthy non-drinker (left), and that of a sober 21-year old with a four-year history of heavy alcohol use (right). The "holes" indicate areas of reduced brain activity.

                                                                                         

                                                                                             

Prefrontal cortex:

The prefrontal area [responsible for good judgment, planning, decision making, impulse control and other tasks necessary for academic success such as retaining information, prioritizing, organizing, completing assignments and preparing for tests.] undergoes the most change during adolescence. Researchers found that adolescent drinking could cause severe changes in this area… which plays an important role in forming adult personality and behavior… Damage from alcohol at this time can be long-term and irreversible.

Prefrontal Cortex

•Hippocampus:The hippocampus (involved in learning and memory) …suffers the worst alcohol-related brain damage in teens… Those who had been drinking more and for longer had significantly smaller hippocampi (10 percent) …In addition, short-term or moderate drinking impairs learning and memory far more in youth than adults… Frequent drinkers may never be able to catch up in adulthood because alcohol inhibits systems crucial for storing new information. Source                 

Weekend Abuse of AlcoholWeekend Abuse of Alcohol

Seventeen Years of heavy weekend Seventeen Years of heavy weekend use (see following slide).use (see following slide).

Bottom of Same BrainBottom of Same Brain

Seventeen years of heavy weekend Seventeen years of heavy weekend use (see following slide).use (see following slide).

Alcohol and CrimeAlcohol and Crime

40% of violent crimes involves alcohol40% of violent crimes involves alcohol

70% of all crimes are alcohol related70% of all crimes are alcohol related

Alcohol is a key factor in Alcohol is a key factor in – 68% of manslaughters, 68% of manslaughters, – 62% of assaults, 62% of assaults, – 54% of murders/attempted murders, 54% of murders/attempted murders, – 48% of robberies48% of robberies– 44% of burglaries. 44% of burglaries.

Consequences In CollegeConsequences In College

1,400 college students die from alcohol-1,400 college students die from alcohol-related causes, and 1,100 of these deaths related causes, and 1,100 of these deaths involve drinking and driving. involve drinking and driving.

500,000 students suffer nonfatal injuries. 500,000 students suffer nonfatal injuries.

400,000 students have unprotected sex. 400,000 students have unprotected sex.

More than 100,000 students are too More than 100,000 students are too intoxicated to know whether they intoxicated to know whether they consented to sexual intercourse. consented to sexual intercourse.

Frequent binge drinkers were 21 times more likely than Frequent binge drinkers were 21 times more likely than non-binge drinkers to have :non-binge drinkers to have :

Missed class Missed class Engaged in unplanned sexual activity Engaged in unplanned sexual activity Fallen behind in school work Fallen behind in school work Not used protection when having sex Not used protection when having sex Damaged property Damaged property Gotten in trouble with police Gotten in trouble with police Been hurt or injured Been hurt or injured Driven a car after drinking Driven a car after drinking

The national average age when The national average age when youth youth first tryfirst try alcohol alcohol

11 years for boys.11 years for boys.

13 years for girls.  13 years for girls. 

The average age at which Americans The average age at which Americans begin drinking begin drinking regularlyregularly is 15.9 years is 15.9 years old.old.

Alcohol- Still The LeaderAlcohol- Still The Leader

The three leading causes of death for The three leading causes of death for ages 15 – 24 are ages 15 – 24 are automobile crashesautomobile crashes, , homicides and suicides -- alcohol is a homicides and suicides -- alcohol is a leading factor in all three.leading factor in all three.

Alcohol has a GREATER impact Alcohol has a GREATER impact on the developing teen brainon the developing teen brain

Alcohol impairs the areas that control Alcohol impairs the areas that control motor coordination, impulse control, motor coordination, impulse control, memory, and judgment.  Kids who drink memory, and judgment.  Kids who drink are at greater risk for school failure and are at greater risk for school failure and dropping out. (Substance Abuse and dropping out. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration-Mental Health Services Administration-SAMHSA) SAMHSA)

Reasons To AbstainReasons To Abstain

““A child who reaches age 21 without A child who reaches age 21 without smoking, smoking, abusingabusing alcohol or using alcohol or using drugs is virtually certain never to do drugs is virtually certain never to do so”.so”.

Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Chairman and President, The National Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Chairman and President, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia UniversityCenter on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University

Communication Tools Communication Tools

Use current research: Kids are curious. “Let me tell you a little bit Use current research: Kids are curious. “Let me tell you a little bit about the effects of….or ask them what they know about the about the effects of….or ask them what they know about the effects/risks.”effects/risks.”Be well informed: Know the facts. Students are sophisticated!Be well informed: Know the facts. Students are sophisticated!Stay on neutral ground: Illustrate what happens to any user of a Stay on neutral ground: Illustrate what happens to any user of a substance, rather than focusing on the student’s use.substance, rather than focusing on the student’s use.State what experts have found, not what you think happens.State what experts have found, not what you think happens.Ask, “What do you think of all this?”Ask, “What do you think of all this?”Use teachable moments: Use examples from articles, movies, Use teachable moments: Use examples from articles, movies, students’ conversations, etc. students’ conversations, etc. Let them overhear you talking about the subject.Let them overhear you talking about the subject.Believe that kids want your help; they value your input but may not Believe that kids want your help; they value your input but may not show you.show you.Refer to a chemical dependency counselor.Refer to a chemical dependency counselor.

Chemical Dependency Programs for Youth

Daybreak Treatment Center 509-927-1688 (main office), 509-444-7033 (outpatient), 509-927-1991 (Valley office)

Native Project 509-325-5502

Excelsior Youth Center 509-328-7041 xt 116

NEWTA provides drug testing at reduced rates 509-326-7740