Alcohol and its consequences on young people

Alcohol is the most widely consumed drug among the adult and young population, and it is easily accessible and available in any supermarket.

What is alcoholic drink?

Although many do not recognize it or do not see it as such, alcohol is a drug that affects and depresses the central nervous system.

Alcoholic drinks are composed of ethanol or ethyl alcohol, most of these beverages have a percentage that tells us the concentration of ethyl alcohol it contains, but it will still be affected.

Young people and alcohol.

Many young people are subjected to a lot of stress and situations that make them relate to alcohol, allowing them to find a moment of relaxation and fun in everyday life, making it a regular activity in their leisure time.

Many young people start to use it to de-stress, to go out partying, to celebrate my success, but then they do not control it and what is worse, in many cases they combine it with other equally or more harmful drugs.

Young people or adolescents who are at risk of presenting serious problems with alcohol are:

• They belong to a family that abuses alcohol.
• Depression
• Those who suffer abuse in the family or at school.
• Those who have inappropriate friendships.

Consequences of alcohol

According to the WHO "Alcohol consumption contributes to 3 million deaths each year globally as well as to the disabilities and poor health of millions of people. Overall, harmful use of alcohol is responsible for 5.1% of the global burden of disease."

Health problems

• Long-term problems such as nausea, diarrhea, gastritis, colon and liver cancer, among others, can occur.
• Sexual problems such as infertility, impotence.
• Alcohol dependence.
• Heart and brain damage.

Family or social problems.

• Economic problems.
• Deterioration of family and friendship relationships.
• Violence.
• School failure.

If you have problems with alcohol or with a family member, there are some help centers that you can contact to provide free support.

If you need information and advice, you can contact the following institution:

IAFA

Instituto sobre Alcoholismo y Farmacodependencia

Information phone number: 800-4232-800

De la escuela Franklin Roosevelt 300 metros este y 100 metros sur.San Pedro de Montes de Oca. San José, Costa Rica.

Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Web: https://www.iafa.go.cr/

 Ref: https://www.who.int/health-topics/alcohol#tab=tab_1