Number 3.12 February 2005
for workers
Download this fact sheet: The effects of alcohol on the young brain: for workers [PDF: 49 KB]
Introduction
It is generally accepted that because young people are more likely to drink a large amount of alcohol in a short space of time they are more likely to experience the dangers associated with alcohol abuse. These include driving under the influence of alcohol, accidental injuries, violent behaviour and risky sexual behaviour.
However, there is another danger associated with young people drinking that has not received very much attention and relates to the developmental problems caused by alcohol. As a result of the changes in brain function that occur during adolescence, alcohol affects adolescents differently from the way it affects adults. Heavy exposure to alcohol during early adolescence may have a negative effect on healthy brain development. This can have long-term health and social consequences.
This fact sheet outlines the current research on the effect of alcohol on the developing brain.
The developing brain
The areas of the brain that undergo dramatic changes during adolescence are the hippocampus and frontal lobe. These parts of the brain are associated with motivation, impulse control and addiction.
The maturation of the brain during adolescence may explain why teenagers have an increased interest in the use of alcohol and other drugs and also their vulnerability to damage from heavy exposure to alcohol.
Alcohol affects adults and adolescents differently
Alcohol affects adolescents differently from adults in the following ways:
- Adolescents seem to be less sensitive to the coordination problems and sedative effects of alcohol, which means that they are able to stay awake and drink for longer than adults.
- Adolescents appear to be more sensitive to the learning and memory problems that can be caused by alcohol. They are more likely than adults to suffer from lack of judgement and memory loss.
- Adolescents need only drink half as much alcohol as adults to suffer the same effects.
This is a potentially very dangerous combination of effects that increase the risk of damage to their brain. This may also be why adolescents who abuse alcohol tend to “binge drink”.
Research suggests that it is not only repeated alcohol exposure but also withdrawal (hangover) that is damaging to the brain. This may mean that binge drinking is particularly dangerous.
Effects of alcohol on memory and learning
Alcohol impairs learning and memory by disrupting the ability of the circuitry in the brain to change as a result of experience. Frequent use of alcohol inhibits systems crucial for storing new information as long-term memories and makes it difficult to remember what was just learned. Exposure to alcohol during adolescence may permanently disrupt the brain circuitry and lead to long-term memory and learning problems. There is also evidence that more extreme forms of memory impairment caused by alcohol, including blackouts, are more common among young drinkers.
Increased chance of dependence
The changes that occur to the brain during adolescence also make young people more vulnerable to the addictive actions of drugs. Behavioural research has found that the earlier in adolescence that alcohol is used the greater the likelihood that use will escalate to higher frequencies and amounts. Children who first use alcohol before age 15 are five times more likely to abuse alcohol than those who first use alcohol at age 21 or older. This increased use leads to a greater chance of alcohol-related problems in later life, including dependence.
Rather than outgrow alcohol use young people who binge drink are significantly more likely to have drinking problems as adults.
Effects of alcohol on social development
Early involvement in alcohol use can have a range of effects on the social development of young people. It can shape their recreational interests, coping strategies, social relationships and attitudes to other forms of substance use. For example, they may turn to alcohol as a form of coping with problems and be more open to using other substances. Research also suggests that the learning difficulties associated with adolescent drinking result in poorer performance at school and an increased risk of social problems, depression, suicidal thoughts and violence.
What can be done?
Current research suggests that heavy exposure to alcohol during adolescence might permanently alter brain development. Even if an adolescent stops drinking as an adult it could be too late to reverse the damage that might already have been done. For these reasons, the research suggests a policy of abstinence for teenagers.
References
De Bellis MD, Clark DB, Beers SR, Soloff PH, Boring AM, Hall J, Kersh A & Keshavan MS 2000 “Hippocampal volume in adolescent-onset alcohol use disorders”, American Journal of Psychiatry 157, pp. 737–44
Spear LP 2002 “The adolescent brain and the college drinker: Biological basis of propensity to use and misuse alcohol”, Journal of Studies on Alcohol Suppl(14), pp. 71–81
Toumbourou JW, Rowland B & Jefferies A 2005 “Could an alcohol abstinence focus through childhood and adolescence reduce alcohol-related harm?” DrugInfo Clearinghouse prevention research evaluation report 13, West Melbourne: Australian Drug Foundation
White AM & Swartzwelder HS 2004 “Hippocampal function during adolescence: A unique target of ethanol effects”, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1021, pp. 206–20
White AM 2003 Substance use and adolescent brain development”, Youth Studies Australia 22:1, pp. 39–45