Underage Binge Drinking

Underage Binge Drinking

Effects of binge drinking.

Binge drinking can be extremely dangerous, particularly for inexperienced, underage drinkers. Consequences of binge drinking can include heightened risk for alcohol addiction; dangerous driving decisions; unprotected sex; and damage to the liver and kidneys. Binge drinking may also lead to alcohol poisoning, which sends many teens and young adults to the emergency room every year.

Binge drinking tends to harm girls more than boys. A study from the University of California, San Diego and Stanford University found that underage girls who binge drink show diminished activity in brain regions linked to memory (compared to non-drinking teenagers). The study also concluded that women might be more vulnerable than men to neurotoxic effects of underage drinking and heavy alcohol abuse during adolescence.

Another study by Susan Tapert of the University of California, San Diego found that binge drinkers’ white matter—the part of the brain that transmits signals—was abnormal compared to non-drinking teens' white matter, suggesting that underage binge drinking could affect thinking, learning and memory.

If your young adult needs help overcoming binge drinking, please explore Caron’s programs or contact us.