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Snapshot Teens and Alcohol -December 2019
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![Snapshot Teens and Alcohol -December 2019]() |
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 | December 2019
Snapshot
Teens and Alcohol
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| It is illegal for anyone under 19 to buy, possess, or drink alcohol. Despite this and the potential health risks, some youth may still choose to drink alcohol.
Drinking alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the body. When a person drinks alcohol, it slows down their brain and how it works with the rest of the body. It is harder to think clearly, react quickly, and be
coordinated. Drinking alcohol also influences mood and judgement. Drinking can be damaging to healthy brain development.
How alcohol affects a person might be different based on:
How often they drink
How recently and what they have eaten
Their size and metabolism
If they are mixing substances (including medications)
What they are
drinking (strength of drink, amount, how quickly they are drinking)
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ONE
WHAT IS ALCOHOL?..........................................
Alcohol is the most common psychoactive substance in Canada. It is made from grain, fruit or vegetables that are fermented and then used in beer, wine or liquor (vodka, rum, gin, etc.). Alcohol is also used in other things like mouthwash and hand sanitizer. Some people drink them to try to get intoxicated.
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Alcohol is a "downer" or depressant. It slows down the central nervous system and makes a person think, talk and move at a slower pace. The effect alcohol has on a person depends on their size, gender, ethnicity, drinking experience, mood and the environment it is used in. Usually, your body can process about one drink an hour. If you consume more, then you begin to become intoxicated (drunk).
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TWO
WHAT ARE THE SHORT TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL?............................................................................
- relaxed
- drowsy
- dizzy
- depressed or aggressive
- problems with coordination and balance
- less able to make thoughtful decisions, poorer judgement
- slower reaction time
- less inhibited (may say or do things you otherwise wouldn't)
- hangover (beginning 8-12 hours after drinking stops) including headache, shakiness
- possible short term memory loss (blackouts)
- alcohol poisoning or overdose is possible
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THREE
WHAT IS BINGE DRINKING?..........................
Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short time with the intention of getting drunk is called binge drinking. Binge drinking is considered five or more drinks in one sitting for males and four or more drinks in one sitting for females. Binge drinking often leads to a number of physical effects including:
- nausea
- vomiting
- hangover
- shakiness
- blackouts (memory loss)
- passing out
- injury (from having less physical control or from recklessness)
- alcohol poisoning
- health problems, like long-term liver damage
worsening of previously diagnosed health conditions
- possible death
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FOUR
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL POISONING? ......................................................
If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning call 911 immediately.
- severe confusion
- vomiting
- seizures
- blue colour to skin
- passing out repeatedly
- decrease in body temperature
If a person drinks a lot of alcohol very quickly, it can be fatal. After a person passes out, the alcohol that is in the stomach continues to be absorbed into the bloodstream. If too much alcohol enters the bloodstream, it may cause breathing and heart rate to slow down and eventually stop. Sometimes people who have been drinking vomit in their sleep and then choke to death.
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FIVE
WHAT ARE THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL?.................................................................................
- damage to the liver, heart and brain
- diseases of the stomach and pancreas
- cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus
- high blood pressure
- low red blood cell count (anemia)
- weaker immune system
- muscle weakness
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Below is a very helpful guide “How to Talk to Your Teen”, which can support your efforts in engaging your teen in this conversation.
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The Greater Victoria School District is committed to providing safe and healthy learning environments for all students. As part of our approach, we have been focusing on mental health and substance use topics to help us promote well-being in our schools.
Substance use is a complex topic that often highlights varied philosophies, myths, and a great deal of fear. The research shows us that early interventions, particularly around critical thinking and decision making, has an impact on delaying use in youth. As well, open dialogue with adults, intentionality around attachment, and a focus on the
| factors that contribute to substance use, as opposed to the actual substances, also prevent, delay and reduce substance use in our students.
Our goal is to create a more cohesive, systematized substance use plan focusing on social emotional learning, that includes our youth and schools, community partners, and families. We strive for a shared vision, common language and consistent messaging over time, in order to support positive youth culture and a healthy perspective on substance use and mental health.
In B.C. the legal age for alcohol and cannabis consumption is 19 years old.
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