Preventing Teenage Alcoholism

Alcoholism has always been regarded as a major concern of adults but realistically, it is a problem that has been rooted from the early years of adolescence, though it has been taken for granted and has been labeled as a part of the rebellious stage of growing up. A large percentage of alcoholics have comprised a group who confessed that alcoholism may have started when they were in high school. The early stage of drinking habit is the time where we should do all the preventive measures to prevent alcoholism from penetrating into the system.

Preventing Teenage Alcoholism

The problem is usually undetected and can be considered as a harmless activity where teenagers bond together and take beer and other available liquors in the market. It can affect even those students who are not necessarily considered as delinquents but join the drinking groups out of peer pressure. Since the adolescent stage is the time when young people experiment on almost everything, alcoholism becomes a subject of curiosity.

Another reason why teenage alcoholism doesn’t get noticed is the fact that the advertising media have always presented drinking alcoholic beverages as a form of relaxation and a proof of machismo and modernity. Celebrities are seen endorsing all forms of drinks from beers to wines and spirits. Teenagers see this media mileage as a go signal to try and do the things that adults do. They would reason out that as long as they follow the rule” Drink moderately”, they are on a safe ground. But unfortunately, the moderate drinking issue is questionable since the effect of alcohol in the body differs from one person to another.

What can teenagers do to cope with the challenge of teenage alcoholism and prevent it from happening? Those who have not yet started tasting the forbidden drink, try to do something enjoyable when you are with friends. Watching worthwhile movies, going out on trips, doing hobbies together, jamming and sharing good music, dancing and creating works of art, these are only some of the fun activities that you can try. For those who have tried drinking and seem to be enjoying it, it is time to think and decide if you really want to do it for the rest of your life. Peer pressure, emotional and financial problems are not enough reasons to do something that you will regret later.

Always think of the negative side when you experience the desire to drink. Who would enjoy an activity which has a negative physical and psychological effect? By thinking of the many reasons why you should not drink, you will make yourself engage to other activities. If you don’t allow yourself to become hooked to the addictive substance, it is guaranteed that alcoholism will not be a part of your life.

All of us need an outlet to survive in the real world. There are so much stress and concerns that seem to occupy our minds and we tend to lose focus and dwell on unproductive activities like drinking, smoking and in the worst case scenario, drug abuse. Teenagers are no exception to this dilemma. Unlike adults, teenagers are not yet equipped with the “survival skills “that are enhanced through experience. What then, can adults do to guide teenagers through difficult times?

Teenagers find time to be with friends, it is a normal part of growing up, but when they want to spend all of their time with friends rather than with their families, the warning button should be pressed. Since the family is the primary institution and all members of the society are products of this unit, it should be the focus of development morally, emotionally and spiritually. When communication lines are open within the members of the family, teenagers see this as a pillar of strength and the need for peer acceptance may be limited to social reasons. Strong family ties result into better individuals who are ready to face the harsh realities the moment they step out of the real world. No amount of pressure can take away a teenager’s strong will to do what is right.

Lastly, we all know that young people see their parents as ideal people they can imitate and when they see that nobody drinks in the family, they absorb this principle as they grow up and they eventually become non-drinkers themselves.

An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. Parents are given a rare opportunity to see life as it unfolds, from birth to adolescence and finally, to adulthood. Teenagers need all the love and affection in the family and we can prevent teenage alcoholism if all the members of the family provide an atmosphere of peace, understanding and love.