Page 147 - Petelin, Ana, et al. 2019. Eds. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of Children and Adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 147
The (biological) vulnerability of children and teens alcohol, and children and adolescents 145
Childhood and adolescence are the most vulnerable periods for the effects and
consequences of alcohol, primarily when ethanol concentrations are high. The
main target organ is the brain and the toxic effect of alcohol also affects the
central nervous system and depending on the concentration and exposure du-
ration, it has short- and long-term effects. Children and adolescents exposed
to alcohol represent an especially vulnerable group due to numerous physi-
cal, hormonal, biological and behavioural changes (Lovrečič, 2014; Lovrečič,
2016). Due to the characteristic developmental processes, primarily the matu-
ration of the brain, adolescents are prone to riskier and more impulsive behav-
iour and at the same time, they have a drastically impaired ability to plan and
predict the consequences and worse self-control compared to adults (Lovrečič,
2014; Lovrečič, 2016). Adolescents are also more susceptible to peer pressure
(Lovrečič, 2014; Lovrečič, 2016). All these factors contribute to more frequent
experimentation with alcohol and heavy drinking compared with adults and
the risk for alcohol exposure increases in a society which is tolerant towards
heavy drinking in public (Lovrečič, 2014; Lovrečič, 2016). Legally, Slovenia has
banned selling and serving alcoholic drinks to adolescents, but in practice, ad-
olescents have access to alcohol in some points of sale (shops and bars) (ZO-
PA, 2013; Mladinska zveza Brez izgovora, 2018). Children and adolescents of-
ten have their first experience with alcohol in their domestic environment
(Boben-Bardutzky et al., 2010; Zalta et al., 2008; Kolšek, M., 2000). The first
contact with alcohol (initiation) is also most frequent in adolescence, most
Slovenian secondary-school students have already tasted alcohol and heavy
drinking is most widespread among the young (Lovrečič et al., 2018; Lovrečič
and Lovrečič, 2018b).
Studies have shown that for children and adolescents alcohol (as well as
other drugs) is much more addictive for children than for adults. More than
half of the persons who encounter alcohol before their physical and psycho-
logical development is over become addicted to alcohol in their lives, which
holds true for only one tenth of the persons who first encounter alcohol in their
adulthood (Anthony and Echeagaray-Wagner, 2000).
Exposure to alcohol in childhood and adolescence represents a risk for
troubles later in life, it can lead to alcohol dependence syndrome or the devel-
opment of other mental disorders (Lovrečič, 2014; Lovrečič, 2016). Childhood
and adolescence are vital for the adoption and development of behavioural pat-
terns including those that refer to lifestyle and alcohol consumption patterns
(Lovrečič, 2014; Lovrečič, 2016). Alcohol dependence syndrome is a process
that can begin in childhood and adolescence. The risk for the development of
alcohol dependence syndrome is a result of the intertwinement of several fac-
tors and the risk for mental health disorders due to alcohol exposure is linked
to the age of exposure: the earlier a child or adolescent is exposed, the greater
the risks for problems later in life (Lovrečič, 2014; Lovrečič, 2016).
Childhood and adolescence are the most vulnerable periods for the effects and
consequences of alcohol, primarily when ethanol concentrations are high. The
main target organ is the brain and the toxic effect of alcohol also affects the
central nervous system and depending on the concentration and exposure du-
ration, it has short- and long-term effects. Children and adolescents exposed
to alcohol represent an especially vulnerable group due to numerous physi-
cal, hormonal, biological and behavioural changes (Lovrečič, 2014; Lovrečič,
2016). Due to the characteristic developmental processes, primarily the matu-
ration of the brain, adolescents are prone to riskier and more impulsive behav-
iour and at the same time, they have a drastically impaired ability to plan and
predict the consequences and worse self-control compared to adults (Lovrečič,
2014; Lovrečič, 2016). Adolescents are also more susceptible to peer pressure
(Lovrečič, 2014; Lovrečič, 2016). All these factors contribute to more frequent
experimentation with alcohol and heavy drinking compared with adults and
the risk for alcohol exposure increases in a society which is tolerant towards
heavy drinking in public (Lovrečič, 2014; Lovrečič, 2016). Legally, Slovenia has
banned selling and serving alcoholic drinks to adolescents, but in practice, ad-
olescents have access to alcohol in some points of sale (shops and bars) (ZO-
PA, 2013; Mladinska zveza Brez izgovora, 2018). Children and adolescents of-
ten have their first experience with alcohol in their domestic environment
(Boben-Bardutzky et al., 2010; Zalta et al., 2008; Kolšek, M., 2000). The first
contact with alcohol (initiation) is also most frequent in adolescence, most
Slovenian secondary-school students have already tasted alcohol and heavy
drinking is most widespread among the young (Lovrečič et al., 2018; Lovrečič
and Lovrečič, 2018b).
Studies have shown that for children and adolescents alcohol (as well as
other drugs) is much more addictive for children than for adults. More than
half of the persons who encounter alcohol before their physical and psycho-
logical development is over become addicted to alcohol in their lives, which
holds true for only one tenth of the persons who first encounter alcohol in their
adulthood (Anthony and Echeagaray-Wagner, 2000).
Exposure to alcohol in childhood and adolescence represents a risk for
troubles later in life, it can lead to alcohol dependence syndrome or the devel-
opment of other mental disorders (Lovrečič, 2014; Lovrečič, 2016). Childhood
and adolescence are vital for the adoption and development of behavioural pat-
terns including those that refer to lifestyle and alcohol consumption patterns
(Lovrečič, 2014; Lovrečič, 2016). Alcohol dependence syndrome is a process
that can begin in childhood and adolescence. The risk for the development of
alcohol dependence syndrome is a result of the intertwinement of several fac-
tors and the risk for mental health disorders due to alcohol exposure is linked
to the age of exposure: the earlier a child or adolescent is exposed, the greater
the risks for problems later in life (Lovrečič, 2014; Lovrečič, 2016).
