World Health Organization finds adolescent use of alcohol a concerning trend

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – Doctors are seeing alcohol as the most-used substance among teenagers. It’s a trend Norton Healthcare experts say can have long-term negative impacts.

The World Health Organization found almost 60% of 15-year-olds have tried alcohol at least once, and nearly 40% reported drinking alcohol within the last month.

Norton Children’s Doctor Brittany Badal wasn’t surprised by these results. She believes this research should be a wake call for adults to have meaningful conversations about alcohol with teens in their lives. Teen and young adults’ brains are still developing and alcohol use at an early age can have long-term impacts on memory function, impulse control, and organizational skills, among other critical brain functions.

Dr. Badal encourages parents to discuss not only the short-term impacts of alcohol, such as impaired judgment, but also the possible long-term effects.

“Reminding them that, though they’re getting closer to adulthood, or maybe considered an adult, why these substances can hurt them and that we want to decrease the risk in teens because we know the younger someone is exposed to substances the more likely they’re going to have issues later on in life,” Dr. Badal said.

She encourages parents to be real and honest with their teens about this topic. She says parents can always ask their child’s pediatrician for advice on approaching the conversation.

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