Summary-- Alcohol poisoning among teenagers is a valid problem. Parents need to talk to their teens about alcohol poisoning and how easily it can occur to avoid senseless tragedies.
Story-- A few months ago in late July a Muskingum County Zanesville High School freshman died on an early Saturday morning at his home. The cause of death was ruled alcohol poisoning. As his high school principal spoke of difficult lessons and candle light vigils, his friends and family suffered one of the worse possible losses an individual can face.
Unfortunately incidents involving teenage alcohol poisoning occur more often than one might think, despite the fact that it is not legal for a teen to purchase alcohol. Obviously finding someone to buy the beer isnt a difficult task. In fact, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found in 2005 that each day in the United States, approximately 13,000 teens and children have their first alcoholic beverages. Although alcohol poisoning is more common among college students it does impact younger teens as well.
According to local Youth Development Advisor for the Holmes County Prevention Coalition, J. Greg Morrison alcohol poisoning is a valid issue a teenager faces if he or she starts drinking.
Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing and the gag reflex, which prevents choking, Morrison pointed out. Someone who drinks a fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop breathing. Even if someone survives an alcohol overdose, he or she can suffer irreversible brain damage.
In some cases, a phenomenon known as rapid binge drinking brings on alcohol poisoning. In this scenario, many college and high school students find themselves in trouble very quickly as they attempt to drink a large amount of alcohol at one time.
Rapid binge drinking, which often happens on a bet or a dare, is especially dangerous because the victim can drink a fatal dose before losing consciousness, Morrison added.
Morrison alcohol continues to poison the system even after the individual loses consciousness. This is why it is so important for the person to receive prompt medical attention if they pass out or fall asleep after drinking.
A persons blood alcohol concentration can continue to rise even while he or she is passed out, Morrison explained. Even after someone stops drinking, alcohol in the stomach and intestine continues to enter the blood-stream and circulate throughout the body. A person who appears to be sleeping it off may actually be in real danger.
One problem with adolescents and drinking is that they fail to feel the effects of alcohol as quickly as adults. Because of this, adolescents may drink more-- thinking they have not had enough to feel the buzz yet. Another big problem with adolescents is if someone does get in trouble or start showing signs of serious problems they are less likely to call for help because they are afraid of the consequences of getting in trouble.
Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include: mental confusion, stupor, coma, or the person cannot be roused; vomiting; seizures; slow (fewer than eight breaths per minute) or irregular (10 seconds or more between breaths) breathing; and hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, and paleness.
Alcohol poisoning is serious and the effects are irreversible.
The effects of alcohol cannot be reversed, only time can help, Morrison said. If a person is unresponsive, call 911 and keep the person on their side, and perform CPR if trained.
The best defense against alcohol poisoning is to avoid it. Parents can be a vital part of this by helping their teens realize the dangers involved. Being consistent and taking a strong stance on underage drinking is an essential key in keeping teenagers safe.
The best advice is for parents to talk to teens about their disapproval of underage drinking, making poor decisions and so forth, Morrison said. It is also important for parents to model responsible drinking themselves. Prohibiting drinking parties and enforcing boundaries regarding alcohol use can be powerful deterrents. There is absolutely no safe amount of alcohol for an adolescent as the likelihood for irreversible damage to development can occur, not to mention the consequences of impaired judgment associated with drinking. Moreover, anyone who uses substances before eighteen-years-of-age is at greater risk for addiction than those who wait until they are twenty-one to use.
No one wants their child to become a statistic. Every parent needs to have a serious conversation with their teen regarding underage drinking and the consequences that can occur. Keeping the lines of communication open and being involved are great ways to try and keep your child on the right track. It is far too easy for one bad decision to impact a life, a family, a high school and a community. No one can turn back time, but we can all go forward a little wiser.
