Despite what we so often see in movies and on television, alcohol abuse is anything but a laughing matter. It’s a situation that directly affects many people all around the planet. It affects the people in their lives greatly, too. According to Hotel California by the Sea, a leader in providing alcohol detox treatment in California, someone is abusing alcohol if they are regularly consuming it as a means of avoiding negative emotions or as a way to cope with stress and anxiety. Over time, self-medication by intoxication destroys the body and the mind of the drinker.
Parents of teenagers need to take it upon themselves to discuss the devastating effects of drugs and alcohol. Teenagers are highly impressionable young people who often come across peer pressure. Peer pressure sometimes makes teens do things they don’t actually want to do. Underage drinking is a big example. Young people naturally may not be able to fully comprehend the hazards that are linked to alcohol consumption. Explaining alcohol abuse to teens isn’t ever easy. It’s something that has to be done, however. The dangers of drinking are varied and abundant. Parents need to bring that reality to light for their children.
Drunk driving is an epidemic all around the United States. In fact, it’s a big issue in locations all around the planet. Driving while intoxicated can lead to all kinds of issues behind the wheel. It can interfere with reaction times. It can interfere with visibility. The negative possibilities are practically endless. Drunk driving has been behind countless car crashes over the decades. In fact, between one-quarter and one-third of all car crash fatalities in 2016 can be traced back to drunk driving. Parents should talk to their children in great detail about all of the things that can happen, even if they survive the crash. Paralysis is a possibility. Limb loss is yet another. Driving drunk can hurt the actual individuals who are behind the wheel. It can hurt the other people who are on the roads right next to them. It can even hurt passengers.
Alcohol abuse can also bring on all types of health consequences. Liver failure is a key example. Parents should make sure that their kids understand what liver failure entails. Indications that are frequently linked to liver failure are skin yellowness, nausea, susceptibility to bleeding, lethargy, bewilderment and reduced appetite. Liver failure can in many cases be fatal. It’s a pressing medical condition that calls for prompt care from qualified healthcare providers. It’s 100 percent critical to driving these points home to teenagers.
Parents need to practice good judgment any time they discuss alcohol abuse. Moderation is always wise. The last thing parents should try to do is intimidate their teenagers. The goal shouldn’t be to make them feel fear in any way. It simply should be to make sure they’re well-versed in all of the realities that are part of drinking excessively.
Communication is a healthy thing for family members. If you’re a parent who wants to do anything in your power to safeguard your teen, you need to value in-depth communication. Discussing alcohol abuse in a candid and straightforward fashion is never easy. It’s something that you should never try to avoid, though. Ignoring alcohol abuse doesn’t help anything. It can actually often make matters worse. If you take the time out of your schedule to engage in meaningful and honest dialogue with your teen, this can help you significantly. It can encourage your teen to talk to you about issues that pop up in his mind, too. Young people often have a lot of curiosity about alcohol use. If your child knows that you’re accessible to discuss alcohol and its effects, that can give him a feeling of peace of mind.
