How to prevent alcohol abuse or addiction
Because young people depend very much on the influence of the parents and other older persons that may constitute models for them, and they are the most predisposed to alcohol use or abuse because of the changes that take place in their life at physical and emotional level, a prompt intervention becomes absolutely necessary.
Teenagers must be prevented from becoming alcohol addicted, because the consequences are tragic among them, including car accidents involving alcohol, drowning, suicides or even crime. Alcohol abuse also may produce sexual addiction and increase the risk of sexually - transmitted diseases.
The symptoms below should worry a teenager's parents:
- Loss or absence of interest in formal hobbies or necessary activities
- "black-out", bloodshot eyes or incoherent speech
- Disestablishment of social relationship to the previous group of friends and attachment to another
- Weak results in school
- Defensive attitude and behavioral disorders.
A parent has a decisive role in the prevention of alcohol addiction; by giving a positive example and by opened, long discussions to the child, and also give him a certain freedom may be very helpful. The child needs to know what is expected from him and also what disastrous consequences drinking might have.