Alcohol Poisoning Dangers among Teenagers
Binge drinking seems to be a growing trend among teenagers. Most do it for fun or a way to "relieve stress", but do they really know just how harmful it can be? Alcohol poisoning is one of the many threats and can possibly be one of the most dangerous in teens.
Alcohol poisoning is the result of drinking an excessive amount of alcohol in a short amount of time. The number of drinks it takes to get alcohol poisoning differs with many things. Weight serves as a major factor. Girls typically weigh less than boys, which also causes them to get drunk much faster. Because of weight, girls are also much more sensitive to the effects alcohol has.
When alcohol poisoning occurs, the blood alcohol rises too quickly and doesn't give the liver enough time to process the alcohol. Once the body is poisoned, the teenager will experience vomiting, seizures, loss of consciousness, slow or irregular breathing, or low body temperature. The loss of breath can come from the alcohol being a central nervous system depressant, which causes the breathing apparatus of the brain to slow down. Vomiting can also be extremely dangerous. If a person passed out inhales the vomit, they can ultimately suffocate.
Alcohol poisoning can have many effects on our bodies as well as lead to death. Paralysis, and swelling of the body, and insensibility are a few harmful effects that can harm your body. An element in alcohol that is toxic, called ethanol, can be released in the bloodstream and cause even more poisoning. This can cause the person to become disoriented and not familiar with their surroundings, they can also be unresponsive and unconscious.
Teenagers believe there are many ways to lessen the effects of alcohol poisoning. With special remedies like drinking coffee, sleeping it off and showering, they believe they won't get sick and that all these things will wash the toxins from their body. Little do they know, none of these things really work. Alcohol can make the body very depressed and can cause things like gag reflexes and difficulties breathing.
Teenage binge drinking and alcoholism are both extremely serious things and need to be watch and monitored. Approximately 20,000 people die every year from alcohol related deaths. While many believe alcoholism can start in high school, college can also be the source . With peer pressure rising and the customary consumption of excessive alcohol being the norm, students find it normal to pass out somewhere, or to see others doing the same thing. It is important for teens to be aware of the harmful effects alcohol can have on their body.
