Various harmful outcomes are linked to underage alcohol misuse, particularly strong and regular excessive drinking. The impact of alcohol use can range from severe and rapid results of a single incident of alcohol impairment, including unexpected accidents and deaths, to cumulative and varied implications of a persistent pattern of drinking, including poor academic performance and relationships that have been damaged as a result of alcohol misuse and dependence.
The short-term effects of underage alcohol misuse involve manslaughter and brutality, suicidal tendencies, sexual misconduct, unintended death and injury related to driving or participating in other dangerous activities after drinking, as well as vandalism and property destruction. Furthermore, research indicates that people who start drinking at an early age have more severe repercussions (National Library of Medicine, n.d.). According to studies, young people who began drinking before the age of 15 had a 12 times higher risk of suffering an unintentional injury while intoxicated, developing an addiction, and a 7 times higher risk of being involved in a car accident (National Library of Medicine, n.d.). Alcohol-related impairment of judgment can have both short-term and long-term impacts. Similarly, young people’s life chances have been shown to vary over time as a result of severe alcohol usage. Frequent and intense usage is linked to low self-esteem, depression, behavioral problems, abusive behavior, dependence on other substances and cigarettes, and stress (National Library of Medicine, n.d.). It is probably connected to the higher rate of attempted suicides among young drinkers.
Hence, alcohol misuse that starts at a young age proves to have an adverse influence on both the mental and physical state of the individual. In this sense, when it comes to mental health, children and adolescents experience depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Meanwhile, physical impact implies damage that stems from violence, car accidents, and inadvertent deaths or injuries. Lastly, research proves that those individuals who start to drink early have a higher chance of developing an addiction in adulthood.
Reference
National Library of Medicine. (n.d.) Reducing underage drinking: A collective responsibility. Web.