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Consequences: Introduction

Impaired Brain Development

Slowed Motor Skills

Difficulty Learning New Concepts/Ideas

Hindered Decision-Making Abilities

Weakened Athletic Performance

Health-Related Issues

Alcoholism as Adults

Legal Repercussions

Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS)

Evaluation, Management and Training Associates (EMT)

Alcopops Summary Report

Facts On Adolescent Binge Drinking › Consequences › Slowed Motor Skills

Slowed Motor Skills

Binge drinking, and the severe intoxication associated with it, causes a variety of motor skill impairments. These include:

  • marked muscular in-coordination;
  • black outs;
  • blurred or double vision;
  • stupor and hypothermia;
  • hypoglycemia (low blood sugar concentration);
  • convulsions;
  • depressed reflexes;
  • respiratory depression;
  • hypotension; and
  • coma.

One of the most common effects is “black out” spells. Nearly one out of every five teenagers has experienced a “black out” spell during a drinking episode. Studies with adolescent rats found that they are less sensitive to the sedative and motor impairment effects of intoxication. In other words, they can drink more than adults before their brain sends them the signals to stop. This delay between the brain and the body may contribute to the binge drinking and black out spells that many adolescents experience.


References


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Winters, K. C. & T. Mitchell. Under Construction: Adolescent Brain Development and its Implications for Preventing Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Prevention Tactics. 8(8):2005.

Winters, K. Alcohol and the Adolescent Brain: Tastes Great, Less Functioning. 2006.

Binge Drinking: Medical and Social Consequences. Institute of Alcohol Studies. http://www.ias.org.uk/factsheets/binge-drinkingmed.pdf

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Winters, K. Alcohol and the Adolescent Brain: Tastes Great, Less Functioning. 2006.

Green Zone. Office of Alcohol and Drug Education; University of Notre Dame. 2004. http://www.nd.edu/%7Ewebdev/alcohol_and_drug/green_zone.shtml

Winters, K. C. & T. Mitchell. Under Construction: Adolescent Brain Development and its Implications for Preventing Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Prevention Tactics. 8(8):2005.

Winters, K. Alcohol and the Adolescent Brain: Tastes Great, Less Functioning. 2006.

Winters, K. C. & T. Mitchell. Under Construction: Adolescent Brain Development and its Implications for Preventing Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Prevention Tactics. 8(8):2005.

Green Zone. Office of Alcohol and Drug Education; University of Notre Dame. 2004. http://www.nd.edu/%7Ewebdev/alcohol_and_drug/green_zone.shtml

Binge Drinking: Medical and Social Consequences. Institute of Alcohol Studies. http://www.ias.org.uk/factsheets/binge-drinkingmed.pdf

Binge Drinking Hand Outs: Governor’s Prevention Advisory Council Statewide Strategic Planning Workgroup.  EMT Group, Inc. 2003.

California Student Survey (CSS) Fact Sheet: Binge Drinking. 10th Biennial California Study Survey (2003-2004). WestEd. http://www.safestate.org/index.cfm?navid=254

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Binge Drinking Hand Outs: Governor’s Prevention Advisory Council Statewide Strategic Planning Workgroup.  EMT Group, Inc. 2003.

Binge Drinking: Medical and Social Consequences. Institute of Alcohol Studies. http://www.ias.org.uk/factsheets/binge-drinkingmed.pdf

Binge Drinking Hand Outs: Governor’s Prevention Advisory Council Statewide Strategic Planning Workgroup.  EMT Group, Inc. 2003.

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California Student Survey (CSS) Fact Sheet: Binge Drinking. 10th Biennial California Study Survey (2003-2004). WestEd. http://www.safestate.org/index.cfm?navid=254

Springer, J.F., Phillips, J., & B. Roberts. High Rate Underage Users: Need and Promise of a School-Based Solution: A Briefing Report to the Governor’s Prevention Advisory Council High Rate Users Workgroup. CARS. July 29, 2004.

Alcohol and Athletic Performance. University Health Center; University of Georgia. 2005. http://www.UHS.UGA.EDU/ATOD/ATHLETIC-PERFORMANCE.HTML

Study Links Obesity, Other Health Problems to Adolescent Binge Drinking. University of Washington. July 8, 2004. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/07/040708004422.htm

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