Alcohol & Teens

An Iowa Youth Survey found that half of all 11th graders in Iowa reported drinking alcohol at some point(1). It's possible that you or your friends have considered trying alcohol or have already tried it before.

It's important to know that there are many risks associated with underage drinking, alcohol affects many parts of the human body, wherever water goes alcohol goes too(2). This means that regardless of age alcohol is associated with many serious health risks.

Hangovers

Hangover is the term used for the negative aftereffects of consuming too much alcohol. Hangovers are caused by many factors such as dehydration, exposure to acetaldehyde (the toxin alcohol produces in your body) and mini withdrawal from the effects of alcohol on the brain(3).

Symptoms of a hangover include nausea, vomiting, headaches, anxiety, muscle aches, fatigue, weakness, sweating, light sensitivity and more.

Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is defined as having 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men in roughly 2 hours. In youth, however, binge drinking is defined as only 3 drinks for girls and 3-5 drinks for boys.(4)

Binge drinking accounts for 90% of all alcohol consumed by teens(5). There are many risks associated with binge drinking, including(6):

Risks associated with binge drinking

• Higher risk of acute harm, such as blackouts or overdoses
• Higher risk of unsafe sexual behavior, sexually transmitted infections and unintentional pregnancy
• Increased risk of violence, falls, burns, drownings, and car crashes
• Increased risk for certain diseases and cancers

Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol overdose causes areas of the brain that are important for supporting life to shut down. These areas are important to control breathing and heart rate. Alcohol poisoning is extremely dangerous and can lead to impaired brain function and even death. If you think someone may be experiencing alcohol poisoning, seek medical attention immediately(7,8).

What to do 

• Seek medical attention right away
• Stay with them, DO NOT leave them alone
• Turn them on their side to prevent choking
• Try to keep them conscious
• Make sure they stay warm
• Recall details about the person and how much they drank

Consequences of Underage Drinking

While drinking may have many negative effects on a person's health like increasing risk for certain cancers and liver disease, there are many other risks associated with underage drinking. Some of the risks include:

• Doing poorly in school (teens who drink alcohol are more likely to get bad grades than teens who don't)
• Increased risk for depression and anxiety
• Poor decision making (teens who drink are more likely to engage in other risky behaviors)
• Risky sexual activity (underage drinking is associated with a higher risk of risky sexual behavior like unprotected sex, and being sexually active at a younger age)

Possible legal consequences like minor in possessions (MIP) could keep someone from being able to play sports or be in other extracurricular activities.

Resources

Citations

1. 2021 Iowa Youth Survey State Report. Iowa Department of Public Health, University of Northern Iowa, 2021.
2. "How is Alcohol Absorbed into the Body?" The Alcohol Pharmacology Education Partnership.
3. "Alcohol's Effects on Health: Hangovers." National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
4. "Alcohol's Effects on Health: Understanding Binge Drinking." National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
5. "Alcohol's Effects on Health: Get the Facts About Underage Drinking." National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
6. "Understanding Binge Drinking." National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
7. "Alcohol's Effects on Health: Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Overdose." National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
8. "Alcohol Poisoning." Cleveland Clinic.