Youth Alcoholism

Josephine Lassailly, jl372@uakron.edu

What comes to your mind when you hear alcoholism? A drunk 40-year-old on a couch drowning in beer? Although that might be the case in some instances, it goes much deeper than that and touches upon many issues. Alcoholism has always been stigmatized as a taboo subject but in recent years its problematic effects have been seen more frequently, especially in younger generations.

The legal drinking age in the United States is 21 years old. This is one of the highest age restrictions for alcohol in the world, and in my opinion, the main contributor to the issue concerning our youth. When the anticipation dissipates as adults hit 21 and get their hands on alcoholic beverages, their lines of morality are blurred and judgment takes a back seat. Intoxication is becoming more incorporated with party culture, fueled by social media and peer pressure, especially in colleges. In an article published by the American Addiction Center, it is reported that most teenagers and young adults document their partying activities creating a craving for this kind of lifestyle.

But although this all seems like fun, there are many dangers involved. This is demonstrated in the physiological effects, alcohol mainly damages tissues when binged on regularly, the damage is centered around the pancreas first, as that is what processes alcohol. Liver injury is common with heavy drinkers but more so with females as body mass is lower than men making alcohol less diluted and more damaging. There is also a mental health risk, people prone to depression or affected by schizophrenia describe worsening effects when drinking alcohol, and those affected by depression are more likely to get addicted as alcohol is used as a coping mechanism and covers up the root of the problem.As seen in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Alcohol addiction also has a genetic component, as seen by research the ethanol metabolism determines how one processes alcohol and is inherited. Those with a faster ethanol metabolism have higher chances of developing an alcohol addiction as its effects aren’t felt as largely thus pushing the person to drink more to measure up to their peers' reactions, or to feel the buzz. Men are also at higher risk for alcoholism because the dopamine released when drinking is higher than the release of their female counterparts even with the same consumption.

Alcohol addiction is a public health crisis that often gets disregarded, but it shouldn’t be. It is a real disease and addiction that affects millions every day. The stereotypical representation of an alcoholic isn’t accurate, all alcoholics are different and it can be hard to recognize the signs. The wrong example is getting set to younger generations in a day and age where posting reckless drinking and partying is the norm. Recovery is possible and instead of solely relying on treatment prevention should be the main recourse. By spreading information about the overwhelming consequences of reckless drinking, maybe young adults would be less susceptible to getting trapped in a destructive cycle.