Alcohol addiction among youngsters

Around 30 per cent of the Indian population consumes alcohol regularly. In the last decade, heavy drinking among youngsters has seen a fast rise. The percentage of under-15 boys, who have not had alcohol went down from 44 per cent to 30 per cent, and for girls it decreased from 50 per cent to 31 per cent, as per the report by Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Party season often has youngsters drinking excessively. However, even small quantities can lead to various health issues. It can effect the brain and muscles. Initial symptoms may be mild, but it can lead youngsters into depression. In many instances, the eye muscles are affected leading to blurred vision. Regular drinking also affects the cerebellum, which manifests as a slow loss of sensation and slower reflexes.

Binge drinking at a young age causes a decrease in absorption of vitamin and iron in the body. This leads to flappy muscles, loss of memory and muscle convulsions. Gradually heartbeats also become weak and irregular.

It is advisable to consume alcohol along with some food rather than on an empty stomach. Consuming it slowly or diluted with some other beverage will help reduce its effects. An individual is termed as intoxicated if they consume alcohol more than 0.002%mg. At 0.08%mg, your judgement gets impaired. For those who recognise the problem and want to work on their alcohol addiction, counselling is advised.