Call Us Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco, and Vaping Click on a drop down section below to learn more information about the topic in that section. ALCOHOL Alcohol is by far the most widely used psychoactive drug in the United States. Yet while the possession, use, or sale of other drugs is against the law, alcohol is legal for those aged twenty-one or older. We know that makes it hard to understand why it might not be good for you when it's ok for others to use. It can be even more tempting because TV and advertising portrays alcohol as fun and trendy. However, it’s important to remember that alcohol is a drug and can cause serious health problems, especially for teens. Scientists used to think that people’s brains were fully developed by the age of 10, but now there’s evidence that shows that the brain isn’t fully developed until people are in their 20’s, or even 30’s. This means for you as a teen that your brain is still developing, and alcohol could impair that development. The last part of the brain to develop is called the frontal lobe, which affects both judgment and impulse control. So as a teen, you’re more likely to make risky decisions. While you’re smart and you think clearly, it’s harder to recognize what’s going to happen after you do something without that part of the brain prompting you to pause and think through things first. Your brain also allows you to learn and retain lots of new things. But the process of general learning is the same process as developing an addiction. So even if you think you're just having a few casual drinks every once in a while, you're exposing your brain to the learning process of drinking alcohol, which can lead to addiction later on. Learn the facts about alcohol and keep yourself safe! Trusted resources include: Young Men and Alcohol Young Women and Alcohol DRUGS TOBACCO AND VAPING All information on this page was pulled from the following sites: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/teens/drug-facts https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/facts-and-stats/national-and-state-data-sheets/adolescents-and-substance-abuse/montana/index.html https://youngmenshealthsite.org/guides/alcohol/ https://www.girlshealth.gov/substance/alcohol/index.html https://www.centeronaddiction.org/e-cigarettes/recreational-vaping/what-vaping https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/vape-talk Children's Clinic © COPYRIGHT 2021 PATIENTPOP Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Accessibility Notice Non-Discrimination Policy Contact Us