Newsletter MADD Teen Influencer April 2023: Alcohol Awareness Month
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The Negative Impact of Alcohol on the Teenage Brain
By Ben Haworth, MADD Teen Influencer
While there are many campaigns and efforts to prevent teens from obtaining and consuming alcohol, many adolescents find a way to drink regardless. The consumption of alcohol causes a variety of negative effects on developing minds, including learning and memory problems. Recent research shows that the earlier a person starts drinking, the higher the risk of future alcoholism and drug abuse. There is substantial evidence indicating that the adolescent brain makes several significant changes that allow for more complex thoughts and behaviors, such as an increase in white matter, greater neuroplasticity (developing new skills and interests), and more efficient neural pathways. Alcohol prevents these vital transformations from occurring while leaving the brain in an underdeveloped state. This may greatly influence future growth in the adolescent brain.
MADD Teen Influencer
April 2023
In a study conducted by neuroscientist Susan Tapert and featured on NPR, underage drinking was shown to “negatively [affect] attention span in boys” and the “ability to comprehend and interpret visual information” in girls. Tapert took brain scans of teens that drank heavily and compared them with teens that didn’t. She found that nerve tissue was damaged in the brains of those teens that drank. “First of all, the adolescent brain is still undergoing several maturational processes that render it more vulnerable to some of the effects of substances,” Tapert explains. Given the prevalence of underage drinking, these data points are of significant concern. The effects of alcohol on the teenage brain are not only overwhelmingly negative but can also be irreversible. When non-drinking teenagers were compared with alcohol-using teenagers, the latter showed lower brain volume and decreased density within the hippocampus as well as the prefrontal cortex. Memory and learning are key elements of the hippocampus. Heavy and long periods of alcohol abuse can be associated with a ten percent reduction size in the hippocampus. The prefrontal cortex is also vulnerable to these same changes. The prefrontal cortex assists in decision-making, planning, and impulse control. Studies have shown a decrease in prefrontal volumes, meaning impulsivity and self control can be greatly affected. There’s no telling what kind of effects on the younger population we might see in the near future, knowing all of this. As a teenager who has chosen not to drink in high school, these facts are shocking.
MADD Teen Influencer
April 2023
There’s no telling what kind of effects on the younger population we might see in the near future, knowing all of this. As a teenager who has chosen not to drink in high school, these facts are shocking. I can’t help but wonder if my peers are currently struggling with making good decisions about drinking in high school. My job as a MADD Teen Influencer is to reach out to as many of my peers in the community about the dangers of underage drinking as possible, so that we all may have happy and healthy futures.
Ask A Teen Influencer Looking for some advice? Each month our MADD Teen Influencers will offer helpful tips based on questions submitted by other teens. You can submit questions anonymously with the link below or by clicking on the icon to the left. TINYURL.COM/MADDTEENADVICE
MADD Teen Influencer
April 2023
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Our Stories: Advocating Against Alcohol Consumption by Kelly Halliburton, Newsletter Chair
MADD Teen Influencers never take Alcohol Awareness Month lightly. April is a special month to display our dedication to Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s mission: that no more lives will be lost to intoxication. Over time, Teen Influencers have reached broad audiences in school campuses, press conferences, and various communities. Here’s how passionate teenagers are spreading awareness in hopes of achieving no more victims. During the summer of 2022, MADD’s young advocates met at the Annual Teen Influencer Summit. Together, we hosted educational trivia games, created lesson plans, and engaged with fellow community members. Attendees and personnel learned of the dangers of intoxication through detailed lesson plans. With guest speakers, this event offered training beyond information provided in secondary school programs. Our journey as young leaders doesn’t stop here. Teen Influencers continue to extend support to victims and provide resources through publications and social media. Alongside our hard-working MADD personnel, we strive for change daily.
MADD's mission is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking. The purpose of the Teen Influencer Group is to provide leadership development for teens by training them to be peer-to-peer educators. These teens provide MADD with the youth perspective and use their voice to educate the public. By reducing and then eliminating underage drinking, these teens will help MADD end drunk driving.
@MADDCalifornia
MADD Teen Influencer
April 2023
How You Can Celebrate Alcohol Awareness Month With Us Teen Influencers greatly appreciate the support our community gives us. Without you, our work would not be possible. Here are three ways to support local MADD chapters! Accessing the organization’s social media pages allows our mission to spread on the platforms. Not only will followers have opportunities to promote alcohol awareness, but they receive updates as well! We love to stay in contact, even after this month! MADD advocates have new milestones to celebrate throughout the year. Moreover, nominating Teen Influencers of the month is beneficial. Your vote gives adolescents the chance to be recognized for their monthly contributions. Sharing our monthly newsletters with others is also greatly appreciated! Notably, donating to Mothers Against Drunk Driving © is one of the best ways to honor Alcohol Awareness Month. All donations go directly to saving lives, preventing trauma, and protection on the roads. To learn more about funding options, please visit the official donation page. Help teenagers like us return home safely to their families.
Nominate an Influencer of the Month! Do you know an influential teen who is a great role model? We would love to spotlight them! Click on the icon to the left or use the link below to share why they should be MADD's Influencer of the Month!
TINYURL.COM/MADDIOTM
MADD Teen Influencer
April 2023
How to Advocate for Safety and Alcohol Awareness Drawing from our experiences with MADD, we strongly believe that everyone is capable of contributing to our mission. This nonprofit organization shines light on all potential drunk driving advocates. To get started, here are helpful tips from first- hand experiences. Attend webinars and community outreach events to educate yourself first. Many resources regarding drunk driving activism are available on MADD’s website and other free sources. After accessing these, take notes and acquire evidence to support your campaign or promotions. The MADD contact team is always available to answer questions and provide help! Next, try to create events regarding alcohol awareness. A good starting point is contacting local advocacy campaigns or community centers. They may accept your proposal, which allows your efforts to expand to larger groups of people. A crucial step in activism is sharing the activities that you host/ attend. Not only does it strengthen the bond of a loving community, but attracts interest over time! As Theodore Roosevelt stated, “believe you can and you’re halfway there.” Organizational involvement and diligence are two key components to enacting change. Through our connections with others, MADD Teen Influencers strive toward a sober future for the modern world. In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, we dedicate ourselves to MADD’s cause. No more silence. No more tragedy. No more victims.
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