Alcoholism: A High Schooler's Guide To Drinking

Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a dangerous condition that can lead to severe health problems and even death. It is characterised by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. While the development of alcoholism is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors, underage drinking is a significant public health problem, especially on college campuses, where drinking has become a ritual that students see as integral to their higher education experience. This text will explore the dangers of alcoholism, the factors contributing to its development, and strategies for prevention and intervention, specifically within the context of high school.

Hiding alcohol use from parents and teachers

Hiding Alcohol Consumption:

• Discreet Containers: Conceal alcohol in containers that look innocent, such as soda bottles, coffee cups, or a hip flask under your clothes. Vodka is a good choice, as it looks like water and has a milder odour.
• Creative Mixing: Mix alcohol with strong-scented drinks like coffee, peppermint tea, or juices with dark colours. This helps to mask the alcohol odour.
• Odour Control: Use mouthwash, gum, mints, or perfume to cover the smell of alcohol on your breath. Eating while drinking can also help disguise the odour.
• Maintain Appearance: Stay fit and maintain a healthy appearance. Alcohol consumption can lead to weight gain, so balancing exercise and drinking can help maintain a youthful, healthy look.
• Awareness and Caution: Be aware of your surroundings and drinking habits. Avoid slurred speech, loud talking, and excessive drinking that can make you visibly drunk. Stop drinking when you start feeling tipsy.

Hiding Alcohol Bottles:

• Creative Storage: Hide bottles in discreet locations such as loose floorboards, under the bed, in a drawer covered with other items, or in a balcony or garden area.
• Disposal Options: If you need to dispose of alcohol bottles, pour the contents down the sink and dispose of the bottles in a public bin, preferably away from your home.
• Plain Sight: If your parents drink, you can hide alcohol in plain sight by adding it to their collection.
• Clever Disguises: Fill bottles with gravel or sand and add artificial flowers to make them look like decorative items. Wrap them as gifts or disguise the bottles in boots at the back of your wardrobe.

Maintaining a Façade:

• Academic Performance: Maintain good grades and high academic performance. This can make your parents less suspicious of your activities and they may attribute your success to hard work and dedication.
• Extracurricular Activities: Engage in extracurricular activities and sports to divert attention from your drinking habits. This can also help maintain your physical appearance and provide an excuse for any increased absence or late nights.
• Avoid Parent Interactions: Stay away from your parents when drinking, and if you must interact with them, try to act natural, avoid excessive talking or laughter, and go to bed early.

Coping with peer pressure

It is normal to want to fit in with your peers, especially in high school. However, it is important to remember that peer pressure can be tough to deal with and can cause you to do things you may not be sure about or that you don't really think are right for you. Here are some tips to help you cope with peer pressure:

Know the facts

It is important to understand the risks and consequences of underage drinking. Alcohol can damage your physical and mental health, and because your brain won't be fully mature until you're about 25 years old, it's much more susceptible to alcohol's negative effects. Additionally, most teenagers don't drink alcohol. For example, a survey found that only 37% of high school and middle school students in North Carolina had tried alcohol. So, if someone tells you that everyone your age is drinking, they don't know what they're talking about.

Choose your friends wisely

Your social group can greatly influence your decisions. If your current friends are making you feel uncomfortable, seek out friends who share similar values and will respect your decision not to drink. You can find like-minded people by participating in clubs, hobbies, sports teams, or academic teams at school or in your community.

Stay busy

Keep yourself busy with activities that are not conducive to alcohol consumption, such as sports, clubs, or other recreational events. This will help you avoid situations where alcohol is present and give you a chance to make new, sober friends.

Have a response ready

It can be hard to say "no" when offered a drink, especially if you feel pressured. Prepare some responses ahead of time so you can decline the offer confidently, such as "No thanks, I don't drink." You can also blame it on strict parents, a big test, or an early morning the next day. Practice saying "no" in front of a mirror or with a trusted friend or family member.

Exit strategy

No matter how careful you are, you may find yourself in a situation where everyone around you is drinking. In this case, you need a safe and reliable exit strategy. The "X-Plan" is an arrangement you make with your parents where you text them an "X" or another pre-arranged message if you need them to pick you up. This way, your friends will only know that your parents need you to come home.

Drinking in secret at school

Firstly, you'll need to get alcohol onto the school premises without being caught. This might involve hiding alcohol in a backpack, a packing box, or at the bottom of a large bag of groceries. Splitting up beers into multiple bags can help to avoid the tell-tale clinking and clanking of bottles. If you're in a group, it's a good idea to split up and look grim and humorless, rather than appearing excited for a party.

Once you've got your alcohol onto school grounds, you'll need to find a discreet place to store it. Some possible hiding places include toilet tanks, bookshelves, inside tall boots, or at the bottom of your laundry. If you're using a flask, it can easily be kept in your pocket, bag, or purse.

When it comes time to drink, it's important to be subtle. Vodka is a good choice, as it's colorless and doesn't have a strong scent. You can mix it with soda, juice, or water, or pour it into a paper fast-food cup or a hip flask. Other drinks like bourbon, rum, and whiskey can be mixed with coffee, ginger ale, or Coke.

While drinking, it's crucial to maintain your composure. Avoid getting visibly drunk, and be mindful of your breath and eye redness. Chew gum or eat strongly-flavored foods like garlic or red onions to mask the smell of alcohol. Stay hydrated by drinking water to prevent hangovers and cover up the smell of alcohol. Use eye drops if your eyes become bloodshot.

Remember, drinking secretly at school comes with risks and can have serious consequences. It's important to be aware of the potential impact on your health, well-being, and academic performance.

Signs and effects of alcohol misuse

Alcohol misuse during adolescence can have serious short-term and long-term effects. Binge drinking is the most common pattern of alcoholism, defined as a pattern of drinking when a male has five or more drinks or a female has at least four drinks on an occasion. Binge drinking can lead to property damage, car crashes, drunk-driving arrests, sexual assaults, violence, injuries, and death.

The earlier a person starts drinking alcohol, the more likely they are to experience a measurable impact on their cognitive functions, memory, and school performance. Alcohol misuse during adolescence has been linked to changes within and between brain regions, including reductions in the size of the frontal lobe, hippocampus, amygdala, and corpus callosum. This can result in lower grades and school absences.

Alcohol misuse can also cause social issues, such as unsafe sexual behaviour, and legal issues, such as arrests for drunk driving or other alcohol-related crimes. It can also increase the risk of physical and sexual assault, both as a victim and a perpetrator.

Other signs of alcohol misuse and alcoholism include frequent intoxication, preoccupation with drinking, an inability to stop drinking, blackouts, personality changes, denial, and a loss of interest in personal hygiene or appearance. Long-term alcohol misuse can cause physical symptoms such as cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, alcoholic dementia, heart disease, and sexual dysfunction. It can also increase the risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular disease, and several other serious health conditions.

Getting help

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use in high school, it's important to recognize that this is a serious issue that can have significant negative consequences on both physical and mental health, as well as social and academic life. The good news is that there are many resources available to help you or your loved one get back on track. Here are some steps you can take to get help:

Recognize the Problem:

Understand the warning signs of alcoholism, such as an increased consumption of alcohol, frequent intoxication, preoccupation with drinking, an inability to cut back, blackouts, personality changes, denial, and dysfunction at school or work. Be honest with yourself or encourage your loved one to admit there's a problem.

Seek Professional Help:

Talk to a trusted adult, such as a school counsellor, teacher, or parent. They can guide you or your loved one towards the right resources and provide emotional support throughout the process. It's important to address the issue early on to prevent it from escalating.

Treatment Options:

There are various treatment options available, and the right choice depends on the individual's specific needs. Treatment can include residential or intensive inpatient programs, online self-guided programs, individual or group therapy, and support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) offers an online tool called the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator®, which helps individuals find qualified treatment providers near them.

Medical Attention:

Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous and even life-threatening. If you or someone you know is experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. Doctors can prescribe medications to address these symptoms and make the process safer.

Support Systems:

Encourage participation in support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). These groups provide a sense of community and understanding, and studies have shown that increased participation in AA can lead to higher abstinence rates and lower health costs. Having a support system in place is crucial for ongoing recovery.

Address Underlying Issues:

Alcohol misuse is often linked to underlying mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, or depression. It's important to address these issues alongside alcohol treatment. Therapy and counselling can help individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms and manage high-stress situations without relying on alcohol.

Remember, seeking help for alcoholism is a courageous step towards a healthier and more fulfilling life. Recovery is a journey that takes time, and setbacks may occur, but with the right support and treatment, positive change is possible.

Frequently asked questions