Ticket to a Fall

The Consequences of early alcohol and drug use

When young teens try drugs and/or alcohol for the first time, they don't consider the darkened doorways they enter. On the contrary, they see acceptance, good times and the deceptive "high" of rebellion. What they often walk into are one drink leading to five drinks, one binge leading to 20 binges and one Methamphetamine high becoming hard core addiction.

During a 2001 survey (U.S. HHS) nearly half of Americans aged 12 or older reported being current drinkers of alcohol. Approximately one in four children in the United States younger than 18 years old is exposed to alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence in their family. Research from the 2006 National Survery on Drug Use and Health shows that there were nearly 11 million people between the ages of 12 and 20 who drank alcohol during a one month period, an nearly 19% of underage drinkers were binge drinkers.

The implication for many young people who drink during their teenage years is staggering. Since essential brain development continues through out their adolescence, memory impairment, impaired motor development and damage to frontal cortical regions are true risks.

They range from increased risk of accidents, injuries, illegal behavior to delaye social, emotional, academic and vocational growth. The long term, often lifetime consequences of early alcohol and drug use can be devastating.

Even so, when an individual is provided the appropriate resources, they are able to identify their situation, acknowledge their dependency and seek alliance with treatment resources to support them in their road to recovery. A full continuum of substance abuse prevention and treatment programs provide healthy preventive opportunities for youngsters and their parents, treatment and support for adolescents and an array of outpatient and intensive outpatient chemical dependency treatment options for adults.

More Information

MDC offers an array of prevention and intervention programs in select communities to help youths focus on positive and productive paths. See our Prevention and Intervention section of our program directory.