Alcohol is the most consumed legal drug worldwide. It is a substance normalized by society because it is present in many social activities. We tend to think that its consumption is fun and helps us escape, but the reality is that it is a very dangerous drug, as it alters our normal activity. In the case of young people, alcohol is even more harmful, which is why it is so important to prevent its consumption and avoid adolescents drinking without any control. In Spain, according to data from the Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education in Spain ESTUDES 2021 among young people aged 14 to 18, adolescents begin consuming alcohol at an average age of 14.
73.9% of young people between 14 and 18 years old have drunk alcohol at some point in their lives, and 1.6% have done so daily in the last month. During the last 30 days, 23.2% have gotten drunk, and 27.9% have consumed five or more drinks, glasses, or small beers of alcohol in approximately 2 hours.
CCAdicciones offers treatment for alcoholism in adolescents, so they can stop consuming alcohol and achieve a healthy life free from dependencies. Alcoholism is a chronic disease from which it is possible to recover and live a normal life away from alcohol.
Why do adolescents consume alcohol?
Adolescence is a stage of experimentation, changes, and trying new things. Young people are no longer children, but they are not yet adults either. They are in an intermediate phase. Curiosity is one of the main elements that encourages adolescents to drink. They want to drink alcohol to know what it feels like and what it causes. They may use alcohol for fun, as a form of leisure, to disconnect and escape tensions. Puberty involves going through a stage where you can feel misunderstood, which causes rebellious impulses. Alcohol can be seen as a way to escape. It can also be used to manage emotions.
Another common cause explaining alcohol consumption among young people is fitting into a social group, feeling integrated, and being part of a group. Generally, everyone likes to belong to a social group, especially during adolescence when being integrated is given more importance. If an adolescent does not want to consume alcohol, but their friends offer them alcohol and insist that they drink too, they may feel obligated or coerced, as they fear that if they say no and do not want to drink alcohol, they will be marginalized. Regarding relationships, some adolescents may have difficulty establishing connections with other people, either due to shyness or lack of social skills. Alcohol is a substance that socially and psychologically disinhibits. Dopamine is released, and awareness of time is lost.
This substance releases dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter of emotions. After consuming alcohol, awareness of time is lost, effusiveness and good vibes increase, while negative feelings decrease.
Alcohol binges: binge drinking
Binge drinking is a very common phenomenon among adolescents who gather to drink, commonly known as a ‘botellón’ (outdoor drinking party). It consists of ingesting large quantities of alcohol in a short time. The risks of binge drinking are many and very high. Consuming alcohol “in binges” causes intoxication, leading to alcoholic comas, and can lead to alcohol tolerance, since if the same situation is repeated every weekend, the person develops tolerance and will increasingly need to increase the ingested dose.
Warning Signs of Alcohol Consumption
It is no secret that alcohol consumption in adolescents is common. Although consuming alcoholic beverages is not recommended because they are in a growth stage and alcohol consumption negatively interferes with their development, causing brain damage, there are differences between occasional and repetitive consumption. Some of the warning signs that consumption is problematic for the young person are the following:
- Increased tolerance
- Difficulty stopping drinking
- Irritable attitude
- Academic problems. Poor performance in their studies.
- Changes in companions and friends
Adolescent Alcoholism Treatment
Alcoholism in adolescents, as at any age, has a solution: a detoxification treatment. Seeking help from expert professionals and contacting a specialized addiction center is essential to stop the addiction and achieve a life without alcohol. In cases of alcoholism, this fact is more important than ever, since an alcohol addict should not abruptly stop drinking, as they will suffer a severe withdrawal syndrome, with symptoms such as tremors, sweating, tachycardia, and anxiety. Therefore, the first step is to go to a professional for support and to evaluate the best treatment option.
The detoxification treatment is divided into 4 phases:
- Detoxification
- Habituation Breaking
- Rehabilitation
- Reintegration
After completing the detoxification treatment at our inpatient center located in Roda de Berà, the recovery process continues. CCAdicciones has treatment centers in different cities in Spain where we help and guide you to start this detoxification process. Both the patient and their family members will be attended with the utmost discretion and warmth by one of our professionals. Our goal is to give the patient back control of their life. We provide all the necessary support and medical supervision that will allow for complete abstinence from drinking.
There is a way out of alcoholism in adolescents
Quitting alcohol is possible and also generates enormous benefits at a physical, psychological, and family level. Overcoming alcohol addiction is not easy, but with the necessary help, it can be achieved. At CCAdicciones, we know this well, because 86% of our patients have already succeeded. CCAdicciones is a detoxification center specialized in the treatment of addictions such as alcoholism. You can contact us and call our phone, active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 617 200 882. Remember that there is always a way out. The time to regain control of your life is now.
