Teen Binge Drinking Can Do Long-Term Brain Damage

Teen Binge Drinking Can Do Long-Term Brain Damage

First of all, what is binge drinking? Binge drinking refers to the act of drinking heavily over a short period of time or drinking continuously over a number of days or weeks.

If someone drinks heavily over a long period of time, they can become physically and psychologically dependent upon alcohol. Their body gets used to functioning with alcohol present and drinking can become more important than other activities in their life. Over time, alcohol can damage parts of the body, including the brain and liver. There are also the risks of developing emotional problems, such as depression, and problems at school, work and with relationships.

Other effects of binge drinking include unwanted pregnancy, feeling bad about yourself afterwards, feeling vulnerable and out of control while intoxicated, losing friends or loved ones as a result of your behaviour, loss of valuable items such as a car after a crash, or financial losses from buying so much alcohol or having to have time off work to recover from a binge.

Recent studies show that teens who abuse alcohol have problems related with memory, learning and other brain functions. Animals that had been tested suggest that these problems could last into adulthood. Continuous research makes it more and more clear that the teenage brain is vulnerable particularly to the harmful effects of alcohol.

Boys and girls that had disorders caused by alcohol use showed greater brain activity