What is Alcohol? Background

Alcohol is a drug, and it is the drug most abused by teens. Many kids have their first drink at an early age, as young as 10 or 11.

It's easy for kids and teens to get the wrong message about alcohol. They might see their parents drink, or watch TV commercials that make drinking look like a lot of fun. You might see people drinking and watching sports together or having a big party.

Alcohol is actually a depressant. That means it's a drug that slows down or depresses the brain. Like many drugs, alcohol changes a person's ability to think, speak, and see things as they really are. A person might lose his or her balance and have trouble walking properly. The person might feel relaxed and happy and later start crying or get in an argument.

What Happens When People Drink?

When people drink too much, they might do or say things they don't mean. They might hurt themselves or other people, especially if they drive a car. Someone who drinks too much also might throw up and could wake up the next day feeling awful — that's called a hangover. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can kill a person.

Being an alcoholic is a person who has little control over his or her drinking and can't stop without help. A person who starts drinking alcohol at a young age is more likely to develop alcoholism.


Alcohol." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Web. 02 June 2010.http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/drugs_alcohol/alcohol.html#