Combat Alcoholism

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Underage Alcoholism

Teenagers comprise approximately 20% of our population . Many of these adolescents arise out of families who have considerable problems. Many times, there are chemical dependencies , grave marital conflicts where a child sees one parent abusing another, financial strife and even mental illness. Based on these surroundings , and with teens going through their own hormonal imbalance and puberty, the moods of these teens are not particularly stable and this can lead to depression. This age group has a significant amount of psychological problems and are in urgency of counseling or psychiatry. Sadly to say, they turn to substances to get intoxicated to forget their issues , the most prevalent one being alcohol. The ages are getting younger and younger, with boys being approximately 12 and girls 13.
A lot of this is friends trying to make them do things they shouldn’t . Trying to fit in, wanting to be accepted, wanting to be part of the in-crowd. Some look at their own parents or older brothers and sisters and use substances as they do.
Once started and once alcohol becomes a numbing factor , the adolescent will continue to use alcohol or drugs on a regular basis and it will become a pattern , leading to alcoholism. Alcohol can lead them to other drugs, harder drugs. It does not take long until it becomes a habit to their substance and they become so addicted, that they just don’t care anymore . It is possible that they will be seen isolating themselves , or out with friends constantly. it may present itself, where they leave behind the activities of daily living and progress to a disheveled state. It actually comes to a point where everything seems to be uncontrollable and feel that the only way they can feel “normal” is to drink or use drugs.
It is hard for parents and teachers to try to cope with this disease . Prevention is probably the best method. Always being aware of what is going on in the students lives, who they associate with , how they are doing in school. Wherein the methods to control what their children are doing has become a grave concern , that they have come to use portable breathalyzers to determine the drug/alcohol level in their child’s system.
Schools themselves are using a breathalyzer when they see certain students who appear intoxicated or high on the campus. They use breathalyzers as a preventative measure for school functions such as dances or games.
Teens will change friends to be around the ones who will participate or provide alcohol to them . Teens tend to blackout due to their lack of being able to tolerate alcohol. Controversial issues will arise more often in the household when the adolescents are drinking or taking drugs. They also try to run away, thinking that either they are the root of the family problem or just cannot cope with being monitored or held down .
When changes in habits and withdrawal from activities are seen, parents or teachers have to step in . The teen can become abusive to authority figures also . Their lives will revolve around drugs and alcohol and its use. A lot of times, in their mind, they understand that they are addicted but cannot seem to control themselves. They will lose their self esteem and become depressed. Unfortunately, some teens who drink too much will find it much easier to take their own lives in an attempt to ease the pain. The depression becomes so great that they can see no way out of their situation and do not have the desire or the wherewithal to cope with everyday life.
It has become a concern amongst parents, teachers and peers over the concerns of teens who are alcoholics. It is time to really step in and take a long hard look at what is going on and monitor our children . An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Sometimes using a alcohawk breathalyzer seems like it is a form of mistrust, but it may be a preventative way. It should be the focus of adults to advise their children or students that they are loved and that the tactics used are only to keep them around and in a healthy way.

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