Talking about NOT drinking underage now can protect your teen’s developing brain

There is more research about youth and alcohol than when you were a teen. We know that alcohol is the number one substance used by youth.

Here are other things we now know:

• We know that drinking as a teen means a higher risk for alcohol use disorder later in life.
• We know drinking alcohol underage can change the actual structure of your teen’s brain causing cognitive problems.
• We know underage alcohol use can cause your teen to make risky choices they would not have otherwise leaving a bad mark on their future plans.

Alcohol can cause damage to the brain, which is still developing into our mid-20s! Underage drinking can leave effects long after the alcohol leaves a child’s body.

When we know better, we can do better.