The Dangers of Alcohol on the Teenage Female Brain

Alcohol is inthernently dangerous for a long list of reasons. When pertaining to adolescent girls - whose frontal lobe is not yet developed - however, alcohol can result in devastating, life-long physical and psychological issues. 

As mentioned, teenage girls' brains are still developing. Consequently, if a teenage girl routinely engages in underage drinking before their brain can handle the stresses of consuming and metabolizing alcohol, they can permanently stunt the crucial development of their frontal cortex - the area of the brain responsible for mood and impulse control as well as critical thinking. 

While this may be common sense to some parents, others turn a blind eye to their child's self-destructive behaviors, effectively brushing their daughter's premature alcoholism off as youthful shenanigans, a phase she will soon grow out of. Tragically, many parents agree with this sentiment. 

According to the latest findings, roughly 5000 young people under the age of 21 die due to underage drinking. These deaths are attributed to vehicular crashes (1,900), homicides (1,600), and suicide (500). 

To that end, parents of teenage girls must be aware of the dangers of underage drinking - namely, troubled teenage girls whose out-of-control behaviors and emotional health issues already put them at risk. 

But most importantly, parents of a troubled teenage girl need to be prepared to seek the necessary treatment for their daughter if they are engaging in underage drinking.

Alcohol Treatment for Troubled Teenage Girls

IT IS a common misconception that teenage drug and alcohol treatment facilities are only 100% addicted to alcohol. The reality is that most teens enrolled in a behavioral treatment program do not, in fact, suffer from full-blown alcoholism. Most teens in residential treatment, however, have experimented with alcohol on more than one occasion.

While they have not yet fallen into alcoholism, occasional experimentation in a teen could build neurological patterns that may very well lead to alcoholism or addiction later in life. With that being said, it is critical for parents of troubled teenage girls to seek early intervention for their child before they fall into alcoholism.

Residential Treatment for Troubled Teenage Girls

Luckily for teenage girls experimenting with alcohol, there is a behavioral health solution known as residential treatment. Residential treatment is quite popular among parents of troubled adolescents, and for a good reason- they are flat-out effective.

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 

Residential treatment offers therapies for all kinds of behavioral health issues, ranging from addiction to defiance of authority. Furthermore, the most efficient residential treatment centers treat the underlying problems that cause teenage girls to drink, thus eliminating the driving force that enables drinking. 

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death." James 1:12-15

Just as important as providing substance abuse rehabilitation, we encourage our students to seek truth and trust in the Holy Spirit, our Holy Comforter who was given to all believers in Christ. At Clearview, we coach and train our students to seek, trust, and rely on the Holy Spirit, who is their comforter.