Alcohol is the substance of highest use in Connecticut for youth and young adults. 1 in 4 Americans with an addiction began using substances before age 18, compared to 1 in 25 who began at age 21+. Avoiding alcohol in the teenage years has a lifelong impact.
3 out of 4 addictions begin with substance use under the age of 18.
Binge drinking and people under 18
The average age when a youth or young adult starts drinking in Connecticut is 15 years old. Teens drink less often than adults, but when they do, they often binge. About 8.6% of U.S. youth ages 12 to 20—or 3.3 million—reported binge drinking in the past month.
Even just one binge can harm the immune system, leading to acute pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. If binge drinking continues, it will impact the liver and can increase cancer risk.
Read more about the serious impacts of binge drinking:
https://ctstronger.org/alcohol-use-disorder/binge-drinking/
Warning signs of underage drinking
Parents and primary caregivers are some of the strongest influences on teenagers. You can watch for signs that your child might be drinking if they show the following signs:
- Changes in mood
- Problems in school
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering
- Changing groups of friends
- Lower energy levels
- Less interest in common activities
- Not taking care of their appearance
- Finding alcohol in your teen’s room
- Smelling alcohol on your teen’s breath
- Slurred speech
- Coordination problems
For support to help yourself or your teen quit drinking, visit the Resources page: https://ctstronger.org/resources/
Personal safety
Underage alcohol use increases the risk of motor vehicle crashes, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancies, and sexual assault. In fact, alcohol is involved in at least 50% of sexual assault cases – being consumed by the perpetrator, the victim, or both.
In the United States, there are over 4,000 alcohol-related deaths for those under the age of 21 every year. In Connecticut, 41% of all alcohol-related fatal car crashes involve a 15-20-year-old driver.
Abstaining from alcohol before the age of 21 can make all the difference in a teen’s life.
Read more about alcohol and personal safety:
https://ctstronger.org/alcohol-use-disorder/health-and-safety/personal-safety/
LGBTQIA+ community
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual + (LGBTQIA+) community faces many challenges. Members of this community are more prone to substance use in order to cope.
When it comes to alcohol use, there was a higher report of past month use and binge drinking in 2023 among Connecticut’s LGB high school students.
According to a report from the National Library of Medicine, “[LGBT] individuals are at increased risk for both alcohol misuse and alcohol use disorders…Among youth, LGBT young people report earlier initiation and steeper drinking trajectories into young adulthood than heterosexual youth.”
If you are a teen in this community, or the parent of an LGBTQIA+ teen, there are resources available. Visit our Resources page for more information: https://ctstronger.org/resources/
Impacts on a growing brain
The adolescent and young adult brain is still developing until the age of 25, making it more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. As a result, early and heavy drinking can interfere with brain development, leading to long-term challenges.
Consequences of early alcohol use include:
- Impaired memory and learning abilities
- Increased risk of mental health disorders
- Higher likelihood of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD) later in life
- Engaging in risky behaviors, such as unsafe sex or driving under the influence
- Legal and academic problems
Even a small amount of alcohol in the early years can cause memory problems while a person is drinking alcohol. The more alcohol you drink, the more significant the memory issues become long-term. This can result in troubles in school, college, and the early working years.
