How to prevent alcoholism in young people

Alcohol consumption is very accepted in our society and associated with social meetings and leisure in general. Alcoholism is a disease that can have serious consequences on the physical and mental health of the consumer and its social relations. In this Psychology-online article we will tell you How to prevent alcoholism in young people, since it is the best solution to avoid falling into addiction. You will find arguments against alcohol for young people and the negative effects and the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption.

1. Consequences of alcoholism in young people
2. Measures to prevent alcoholism in young people
3. Activities to prevent alcoholism in young people

Consequences of alcoholism in young people

In the first place it is necessary to know the effects of alcohol. Alcohol consumption has consequences at any age, be its punctual consumption (social drinker) or continuous. In the case of young people these are some of the consequences of occasional alcohol consumption:

• To lose control.
• Violently.
• Forget what has been done or said while I was drunk.
• Lose consciousness.
• Cause traffic accidents.
• Put your health and physical and moral integrity at risk.
• Decrease in school performance.
• Have problems with the law.
• Unwanted pregnancies and STDs.
• High risk of becoming addicted.
• Subsequent regret of the way of acting, feeling ashamed or ridiculous.
• Facilitate the consumption of other drugs.

The consequences in general of the Continuous consumption They range from specific problems, the development of diseases and even death. Let's see some of those consequences:

• Memory losses.
• Depression, insecurity and low self -esteem.
• Decrease in cognitive abilities.
• Delirium tremens as a consequence of abstinence: visual hallucinations, delusions, emotional lability and stupor. Tremors and seizures may also appear.
• Hepatic cirrhosis.
• Increased probability of suffering some types of cancer.
• Gastritis.
• Ulcers.
• Heart diseases.
• Family and work problems.
• Physical dependence with the corresponding symptoms of abstinence when for consumption.
• Traffic accidents.
• Sexual problems such as the decrease in desire or impotence.
• Changes in the menstrual cycle.
• Increased violence.
• Economic problems.

According to WHO data Alcohol consumption kills 3 million people a year.

If you wonder why teenagers begin to consume alcohol, here you can see the causes of alcoholism in young people.

Measures to prevent alcoholism in young people

¿How to avoid alcoholism in young people? Some of the strategies to control, prevent and reduce alcohol consumption are the following:

• Regulation of alcohol sale through taxes. In most countries there are already high taxes on alcoholic beverages.
• Difficult access to alcohol. Increasing the age at which it is allowed to buy or consume alcohol as other countries can help prevent it from being consumed at an early age. Decrease shops that have allowed the sale of alcohol, as has happened with tobacco would also make young people access to this substance.
• Awareness programs at school. Apply a prevention and awareness program regularly in courses from the beginning of adolescence.
• Establish more alcohol without leisure spaces. Prohibit alcohol consumption in certain leisure spaces such as sports related. In addition, promote the organization of alcohol -free activities such as alcohol -free discos, concerts without alcohol, etc.
• Prevention through education and example. ¿How to reduce alcohol consumption in young people? Teach your sons and daughters values ​​incompatible with alcohol and other drugs. But remember to be an example, it is useless to talk to a teenager of alcohol consumption with a beer in his hand.
• Inform them of the consequences. Explain them carefully the severity of the consequences of alcohol consumption both in the short and long term. They always understand it better using examples or telling them nearby cases.
• Reduce risk factors strengthening some skills. Many young people and in general many people drink because they feel safer under the influence of alcohol. Strengthen your social skills and self -esteem will prevent this from happening.
• Teach them alcohol. The more alcohol alternatives, your sons or daughters will be able to consume it. Reading, cinema, dance, music, video games, sports, hobbies ... favors the realization of these activities as much as possible to reduce the chances of consuming alcohol.
• Healthy habits. To get young people to consume less alcoholic beverages, measures can be applied such as establishing healthy habits. It is one of the most effective strategies against alcohol consumption. Healthy meals are fashionable, as well as exercise routines.
• Dynamics to work drugs With teenagers. From the educational centers, workshops and activities can be carried out to expose and sensitize young people with the consequences of alcoholism. Role-Playing exercises can also be done to learn to manage risk situations such as group pressure to consume alcohol.

Activities to prevent alcoholism in young people

Starting drinking in adolescence is one of the risk factors to become alcohol addict. Alcoholism is a disease with serious health consequences. That is why it is important to establish Activities incompatible with consumption of alcohol in the routine of young people.

• Sport. Sport and alcohol are incompatible at least in its realization. Promote sports can be fundamental for alcohol consumption prevention. Organize Leagues, competitions and sports days They can promote sports and meetings and reduce the leisure-alcohol relationship.
• Leisure without alcohol. As we have already seen in the case of sport, with other forms of leisure you can reduce the association-alcohol association. For example, with events related to music, video games, dance, etc. Establish a lower price for young people in some places like cinema facilitates access. To prevent alcoholism in adolescents, it is important to promote without alcohol.
• Meeting spaces. Whether in public spaces or giving your children the house to meet their friends to watch a movie, play table games or talk about their things. All without alcohol.
• Contests. You can do almost anything. If we promote the organization of contests we will move away the young people of alcohol and thus reduce adolescent alcoholism.

Here you can see other tips to prevent drug addiction in adolescents.

This article is merely informative, in psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to How to prevent alcoholism in young people, We recommend that you enter our category of addictions.