As summer approaches, and the party season shifts into gear, teenagers will surely be tempted to experiment with alcohol — by far the most abused drug by that age group. But consumption of alcohol can have dangerous consequences, especially for teenagers and tertiary level students, given its negative effects on brain health and the implications for poor academic performance.

It is important to note that even though the law says that one is an adult at age 18, the brain continues to develop up to the mid-twenties, and studies have shown that alcohol can retard brain growth and function. It is therefore imperative that teenagers and tertiary level students stay away from heavy drinking. After a night of drinking, the effects on the brain can linger for up to 48 hours.

Learning and the brain

Learning and memory are complex cognitive processes which take place in the delicate organ of the brain. It has an array of blood vessels and nerves located in the brain, associated with effective learning. Alcohol enters your blood stream right after consumption and is quickly carried around the body. At first, it makes one feel relaxed, but that feeling is followed by drowsiness or confusion. This is because of alterations to one’s brain chemistry.

Alcohol on the brain

Alcohol consumption, whether from beer, wine, or hard liquor, presents many impairments which may be visible after only one or two drinks. These include slowed reaction time, impaired memory, slurred speech and blurred vision.

Large quantities of alcohol consumed over a short period of time can even lead to blackouts because a part of the brain has shut down. Long-term heavy drinking can cause shrinking of the frontal lobes of your brain which is responsible for thinking skills.

The brain consists of about 100 billion neurons. Alcohol can damage or destroy some of them. Alcohol consumption reduces the ability to focus and, therefore, to study, hence it will have a direct bearing on academic performance.

Teenagers, young adults and alcohol

Many teenagers and young adults believe that it is ‘cool’ to have a drink. They fear being ostracised by their friends and lack the confidence to stand up for themselves and just say no. For this reason, many teenagers under the legal age of 18 have begun drinking. Even though this is an illegal activity, they still find ways of procuring the liquor and partaking. Many times this occurs at an unsupervised get-together at a friend’s home. It can also occur at school, after hours when they are unsupervised.

Young adults, 18 and over, believe that since they are of legal age they are licensed to drink as much as they desire. They are oblivious to the effect on their learning, despite being adequately advised at home and at school. It is my belief that this is borne out of the need to assert and claim their independence, but sadly it is to their detriment.

Studies have shown that children who begin drinking at an early age are more likely to become addicts later on in life. Research has also shown that these kids tend to perform poorly at school in comparison to non-drinkers.

When teenagers and young adults drink, their judgement becomes impaired and they make poor decisions which can lead to risky behaviour with long-lasting consequences.

Why young people experiment with alcohol

• They are curious.

• They want to fit in with the crowd.

• They want to feel older.

• Peer pressure

Tips for Parents

• Parents, you are the greatest influence on your child. Therefore, the earlier you begin conversations about alcohol consumption and abuse the better are your chances that your teenager or young adult will make good choices. There is nothing wrong with making your expectations known to them from an early age.

• Make sure that you answer questions asked and that you provide your kids with factual information. Keep communication open.

• Raise your child to be assertive; to know that it’s ok to say ‘no’. You can role-play with your child, by acting out scenarios where he/she is offered a drink. Suggest different ways of saying ‘no’ to alcohol.

• Be an example to your child. You are your child’s most significant role model. What you do is always more important than what you say. If you drink, do so responsibly.

• Sometimes you have to be the “bad” parent and lay down the law. If you suspect that your underage child is tempted or has already started to experiment with alcohol, then it is time to take a tough stand. There has to be consequences.

Make protecting your brain and maintaining a healthy body a priority this summer. Stay away from alcohol!

Dr Karla Hylton is a graduate of the biotechnology programme at the University of the West Indies. She operates Bio and Chem Tutoring, a Kingston-based teaching programme which specialises in secondary level biology and chemistry. Reach her at 404.4506, biochemtutor100@gmail.com, or www.khylton.com