Teens who drink heavily are at risk of developing strong impulsive behaviors

Teenagers have been predominately experimental through generations. Many health experts and parents agree that it is part of growing up. However, researchers are finding new data that links early alcohol use to brains becoming underdeveloped.

One such study from Rutgers University, found that impulsive behavior in males increases after periods of heavy drinking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that this behavior occurs when an individual consumes, on average, two drinks per day.

Researchers revealed that during adolescence, important changes occur within the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which regulates decision making, understanding and behavioral control. However, teens who begin to drink are at risk of serious negative effects on brain development.

Heavy alcohol use in adolescence may lead to alterations in brain structure and function, researchers added. These changes in impulsive behavior can lead to further drinking. The study focused on boys because they tend to drink heavier than girls as teens, and they generally exhibit less impulse control than their female counterparts.

Researchers said that this study highlights the importance of prevention. Furthermore, they added that teens who are currently suffering from heavy drinking may be able to rebound to lower levels of impulsivity. However, the damage that has been done will remain.

Teens who drink and have a family history of alcoholism risk developing the same disease

Other research from Harvard Medical Center found that teens who consume alcohol and have a family history of alcoholism are at risk of developing the disease in adulthood.

Researchers examined adolescents that had not begun to drink, but possessed a family history of alcoholism. They said that this would allow them to view unique differences in brain activity when compared to the control group.

Officials discovered that teens whose families had a history of alcoholism showed higher levels of frontal lobe activation, which controls reward, attention, long-term memory, planning and drive. These results revealed that this group had decreased neuronal efficiency, meaning it takes longer to activate these traits.

Teen boarding schools can help children who engage in risky activities such as alcohol abuse by providing individualized education and therapy to help them achieve behavioral and social success.

Researchers believe that a family history of alcoholism may hint at subtle vulnerabilities in the brains of teens. These results show that these children have less mature frontal system and may be less equipped to manage real-life situation that require self-control.

Alcohol abuse among teens remains high throughout the U.S.

However, alcohol use among teens is still rising in many parts of the U.S. For example, health officials in Sumner County, Tennessee found in a recent survey that 27 percent of students in grade 12 met the definition of binge drinking within a two-week period, reports The Tennessean. The CDC reports that this dangerous type of drinking occurs when an individual consumes five or more alcoholic beverages in a short amount of time.

Furthermore, nearly 36 percent of high school seniors and 28 percent of students in tenth grade reported using alcohol in the 30 days leading up to the study.

Officials told the news source that the current fad among high school and college students of mixing alcohol with energy drinks is a recipe for disaster. The caffeine and other stimulants in drinks such as Red Bull help keep individuals awake while they continue to consume alcohol past levels their bodies can handle, which can lead to hospitalization or even death from poisoning.

Health officials added that educating teens and parents on the effects of alcohol abuse can be paramount in curbing this trend among teens.