31623 Alcoholism in Adolescents and Youth

Course overview

Discussion about alcoholism in adolescents and youth, including risk factors for alcohol abuse in youth, adolescent brain development and alcohol use, alcohol consumption and related blood alcohol levels, treatment options for alcohol use and abuse in youth, and community and home interventions to combat the use and abuse of alcohol in youth. There is also a discussion about how implicit bias may impact healthcare. Underage drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States. According to the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, in a survey of high school students, 29 percent of respondents said that they drank alcohol during the past 30 days, and 14 percent admitted to binge drinking. Alcohol is the most widely used substance among Americas youth, and poses numerous risks and negative consequences, including altered brain development, impaired judgement, increased risk for sexual assault, and increased risk for alcohol problems later in life.