Adolescence is a stage of human development characterized by wonderful dynamic transformations that take place in the context of physiological, psychological and social variations. Everyone knows how high young people’s propensity towards risk is. Alcohol is not only one of the most widespread addictions worldwide, but also the most preferred by adolescents. The central reason is linked to the psychoactive property of the substance which only apparently facilitates social reactions, because they produce pleasure, euphoria, disinhibition, favoring uncontrolled behavior.
And the brain? Until metabolised, ethanol circulates for a long time in the body, interfering with its normal organic and functional development.
In large doses, alcohol penetrates the brain, destroying hundreds of thousands of neurons that remain damaged forever.
Alcohol-related problems are more serious in women than in men, due to their physiology which requires greater precautions, especially if they are in the developmental stage and pregnant. Young people drink more quickly and in greater quantities than adults, but also between meals and with the voluntary intention of getting intoxicated. But why does it suddenly become difficult to control yourself?
Drinking is first of all a way to socialize, but also a way to feel younger among young people, a role in relating and being with others… a real lifestyle. Initially, a disinhibitory effect is generated, reducing anxiety and stress which leads to a gradual increase increasingly directed towards aggression and depression. It is therefore understandable that the act is immediate, fast, instantaneous, unstoppable.
Between the ages of 14 and 25, an excessive influence of traumatic pathologies is found in today’s youth society, accompanied by a worrying push towards violation of laws and dropping out of school.
The pandemic has caused consumption to skyrocket and has further consolidated the practice of Binge Drinking, the ingestion of multiple alcoholic drinks on a single occasion, leading to immediate intoxication and urgent hospitalization. Without a doubt, the pandemic period has changed many habits, including purchases on multimedia channels, which thanks to home delivery allow greater ease of domestic consumption.
The National Alcohol Observatory and the World Health Organization are participating and making political decisions available to renew strategies and prevention plans with the aim of disseminating more information
especially digital, through which you can take advantage of intervention services, motivational interviews, advice for promotion, awareness-raising and early identification of risk factors and screening.
We are all invited to ask ourselves about this challenge, and perhaps try to reflect on healthier alternatives such as personal care, nutrition, reading, travel, sport and music, which contribute to a culture to be supported in the interest of all.
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