MADD Teen Influencer
January 2025
consequences of underage drinking: Fractures in Brain Development:
The brain does not stop developing until 25 to 30 years old, therefore drinking alcohol or involving oneself in drugs can be threatening to a teenagers skills such as: attention span, learning, memory and/or decision-making. These impairments can have life-lasting damage. Alcohol Dependency: Individuals who have involved themself in drinking as a teenager have proven to show signs of alcohol dependency. According to C.S Mott Children’s Hospital: University of Michigan Health, “people who [drink] before age 15 are four times more likely to meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder.” Becoming dependent on any sort of substance is inevitably dangerous, therefore it is necessary to prevent becoming reliant to save oneself. Mental Health Issues: Although it is common for adolescents to encounter mental health problems, alcohol can worsen symptoms. Depression, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and etc can start to occur, if not prevalent already, due to substance intake. Legal Consequences: As underage drinking is illegal, it can lead to serious legal consequences thus damaging a person’s record. Therefore it can prevent successful opportunities such as employment, college acceptances, scholarships and more. Social Life: Alcoholism can have serious effects on a person’s personality and overall outlook of life. Students who deal with substance use find themselves in conflicts with family, friends, teachers and possibly strangers. This can lead to the person feeling completely lonely and disconnected with the world. These consequences are only some of many. Underage alcohol use is never worth risking a bright future.
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
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