Hello Great Mothers!
Teenagers’ addiction to alcohol is particularly risky because it affects their brain chemistry and makes it harder for their bodies and minds to develop properly. Therefore, we are expected as mothers to prevent our children from overindulging in alcohol to stop them from becoming addicted to it. This is very important as addiction can become a lifelong problem.
Teenagers getting involved in alcohol can arise from a variety of causes; Peer pressure, familial dynamics, residing in an area where alcohol is easily accessible, etc. Peer pressure was discussed in my previous article. Others are;
1)Teenagers desire to feel like adults.
Most teenagers can be physically as large as most adults by the time they are in high school. They might be responsible for driving, working a part-time job, and having extra duties at home, such as taking care of a younger sibling. Teenagers are developing and want to be treated like adults. They may believe that if adults should drink alcohol, why shouldn’t they?
Teenagers don’t realize that despite their appearance, their minds are still developing. A study shows that the adolescent brain still undergoes development up to the age of 25. Alcohol has a different impact on the developing teenage brain than it does on the adult brain. Misuse of alcohol can impair judgment, self-control, memory, and other faculties. Alcohol consumption at an early age can have dangerous and long-lasting effects on our teenagers. Therefore, we are to ensure we explain to our children beforehand the different development their bodies will go through at the adolescent/teenage age.
2)Exposure to Social Media
Also, the amount of time that most teens spend on social media may affect their perception of reality. Many of the celebrities and music industry titans they follow have been posting images from gatherings and events where alcohol has been a prominent feature. It might make drinking appear incredibly fun.
According to one study, teenagers who are exposed to alcohol on social media may believe that drinking is something that everyone does, and so it is worth trying. Tell your children that not everything they see on social media reflects reality. It’s our duty as mothers to let them know that not everything they see on social media is good for them.
We shall discuss more of this in our next article.
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Bye!
