Maybe you’ve noticed people drinking beer, wine coolers and liquor at parties. Your friend might have stolen some vodka from her parent’s liquor cabinet at a recent sleepover party. Maybe you’ve even tried a glass of wine or beer yourself. What do you think? Do you like the way it tastes? Do you think it’s cool to get drunk? Well, the first fact is: It's illegal for you to be drinking when you’re under 21. That means, if the police find out, you’re busted. It also means that if you drink at your friend’s house, her parents are busted too. Kind of scary to think about, isn’t it?

The second thing to think about is that alcohol is toxic. So, when you consume alcohol—especially when you over drink, or binge (four or more drinks for girls), you are putting a harmful toxin into your body. That is why you might feel the need to vomit when you drink too much—your body is rejecting the alcohol. Actually, your stomach is very sensitive to alcohol, and will reject it when your body is at a dangerous level. If you have been drinking and feel the need to vomit, don’t resist. Your stomach may be saving your life. In fact, the difference between the alcohol level that intoxicates you and the level that will kill you is very small.

Alcohol is also a depressant. This means that alcohol “depresses” your brain activity, interfering with your vision, speech, movement and memory. Your balance, reflexes and coordination are also seriously affected as you become drunk. If you drink to a blood alcohol level of .30, which is about 10 drinks in an hour for a 140 lb. woman, then your brain’s ability to control basic survival functions like heartbeat and breathing is affected. At this point, you risk death. For example, a 100 lb. woman only needs to drink 7 drinks in an hour to attain a .30 blood alcohol level. Think about chugging contests or drinking games that you have seen played. This doesn’t seem so difficult to do, does it?

Your judgment is impaired. The most important warning that you should always keep in mind is that alcohol impairs your judgment. That means that alcohol clouds your mind, delays your reaction time and slows you down. All too often, cases of date rape involve teenage girls who were too impaired by alcohol to remember details or to put up a fight. This never means that a girl is to blame for such a situation; it should only serve as a warning that it is much safer—in the long- and short-run—to stay sober and in control. If you are drunk, you are more likely end up in some risky scenarios. Plus, bad decisions are much easier to make when you are drunk.

Another dangerous decision. Never drive during or after drinking or get into a car with anyone who has had a drink (even if they don’t seem drunk). If you have a driver’s license, you have more freedom, greater access to parties and alcohol, and are put into even more situations with the potential for dangerous—or deadly—decisions.

Drinking and Smoking. For many people, these two habits go hand in hand. Ask most teenage smokers, and they will tell you that they only smoke when they are drinking. Both are "social" habits, and parties often are so filled with smoke that it feels like you are smoking a cigarette, even if you aren't. There are many myths surrounding smoking and drinking. Some people believe that smoking makes you get drunk faster, for example. Well, the only thing that anybody knows for sure is that smoking and drinking are very hazardous to your health. Click here for more on the specifics of smoking.

What constitutes one drink anyway? One 12 oz. beer, a 5 oz. glass of wine, or a 1.5 oz. shot of liquor all constitute one drink.

Hangovers. A hangover is usually characterized by a headache, extreme thirst and nausea, among other symptoms. There are no magic solutions that will make you sober, or prevent a hangover. Only time will truly cure you. But you should drink lots of water to replenish yourself from the alcohol, which dehydrates your body. Never take Tylenol (acetaminophen) before you go to bed. Just like alcohol, Tylenol® goes through your liver, and mixing the two can cause damage to your liver and a bad stomachache.

Don’t mix drugs and alcohol—ever. Many prescription drugs, including pain-killers, mood medications and relaxants, may be very dangerous when mixed with alcohol. Make sure you read the instructions on any medicine you’re taking, or talk to your doctor. Depressants, such as cough medicines, barbiturates or codeine, are also depressants and when mixed with alcohol, they can cause your body’s internal organs to slow down to a dangerous point.

Click below to read about related topics.

Introduction
Smoking
Alcohol
Drugs