During adolescence, one’s brain goes through major changes that include physiological, psychological, and social changes (Crego 2). This is one reason the drinking age should be raised. The raise in the drinking age would help prevent problems and set-backs to the student during the sensitive time of adolescence. Functions such as attention, working memory, planning, problem solving, and inhibitory control are developing during adolescence and can be harmed if students drink (Crego 2). According to Crego, “Given the extent of brain maturation occurring during this phase in life, adolescents who use substances appear to be vulnerable to alterations in brain functioning, cognition and behavior, and alcohol use may
In the 1960’s and 1970’s when many states had lowered the MLDA, besides the rise in drunk-driving deaths, studies showed that people raised from childhood in under-21 states were involved in higher rates of alcohol and drug use as adults, and had a higher rate of homicides and suicides. (Moses, 2011) This in turn convinced federal law makers to raise the MLDA again to 21. However, in order to encourage states to comply, the federal government would tighten their purse strings and states would receive little or no funding towards highways. So while there are those who do not necessarily care one way or the other about the actual age limit on alcohol consumption, they do prefer having the federal
Consequences of Underage Drinking & A Lower MLDA Health Issues • Individuals who start drinking earlier than age 21 are more likely to be a driver in a motor vehicle crash, be injured, and be in a physical fight, according to a recent study. The younger the individual, the more likely he or she will experience these The cost of pain and suffering top a outcomes after drinking.10 • Repeated use of alcohol during adolescence can lead to deficits in cognitive abilities, including learning and memory. • Heavy drinking during adolescence and young adulthood is associated with poor cognitive functioning in young adulthood.11 • Serious chronic diseases involving the liver, heart, and digestive system are associated with heavy alcohol consumption.
The Dangers Of Teen Drinking While alcohol is legal to people age twenty-one and up, most teenagers partake in events that involve alcohol. However teens do not realize that alcohol is a drug. Averaging from the age of twelve to seventeen, alcohol is the highest used drug. (DiscoveryHealth.com) Teenagers may just think of this as a beverage to become more social or to fit in but do not realize the hard facts of alcohol. It has lasting effects on a developing brain of a teenager, it can affect everyday life, and the long term effects of alcohol can permanently damage one's body.
The author writes about the diseases and condition of long and short term use of alcohol. How it effect women, young people and families. He also discuss the signs and how to treat the disease, also there is a testimony of how someone started drinking as young as 11 years old. In concussion this is a serious condition that research shows that if someone start drinking before the age of 15, they are five times more likely to become alcohol dependent than those who start drinking at
Teenage drinking affects the academic achievements of many teens that drink; in some cases that involves poor or failing grades and excessive absences. A long-term effect of teenagers consuming alcohol is the fact that they are more prone to addiction. 87% of teens who drink alcohol before the age of twenty one are susceptible to being alcoholics for the rest of their lives. Drinking is a major factor in the leading cause of teen deaths. Most teenagers do not outgrow the unhealthy habit of heavy drinking.
Drinking privately is extremely unsafe and when kids are in a situation they can't handle, they can then ask for help. Majority of teens are capable of being responsible and can handle the low age. This will alleviate all the problems with college students. Underage drinking is a huge problem in the United States because it has one of the highest ages in the
It was set because teenagers can develop serious health issues. Poisoning of the blood can occur from a large dose of alcohol in one period. When teens are drinking, they are not considering the dangers of their actions. Their judgment is clouded by the effects of drinking. Another health concern is the effect that drinking has on the brain, which is still developing in all teenagers.
This sends a conflicting message to the young person, that drinking is permissible at an earlier age than 21. Scientists conclude that early drinking by adolescents increases the lifetime likelihood of alcohol dependence, and that overall drinking levels in a society are directly linked to drinking problems (NIAA p. 2). The peers of an individual can also have a strong influence upon drinking habits. A person is likely to behave according to their friends’ standards in order fit in and be accepted. If peers encourage others to drink alcohol underage, often teens will drink to feel more accepted by their peers.
All these changes throughout the period of the development of alcoholism dependency have caused mental disabilities and severe changes in the human body. Another reason why people should know the effects of alcoholism is the harmful dangers on young teenagers. Studies have shown that nearly 20 percent of 12 to 20 year olds have experienced alcoholism to cope with their pain. The effects of alcoholism on the brains of young teenagers takes a note to comparing magnetic resonance on imaging the brain of 14-years-old to 21-year-olds who have