Summer is upon us and the American Academy of Pediatrics is urging parents to set firm rules against teen drinking.
In an updated policy statement, the group noted studies have found that people who begin drinking at a younger age are more likely to have an alcohol use disorder later in life, regardless of their gender or race.
“The teen years are a critical time for brain growth, when connections responsible for emotional regulation, planning and organization are being formed and fine-tuned,” Joanna Quigley, MD, lead author of the policy statement, said in a news release. “Alcohol paves a pathway for addiction when the brain is still maturing, affecting the area that governs decision-making. As parents, we don’t want to downplay those risks, but keep the conversations open and model healthy habits.”
Check out the Parent’s Guide for Underage Drinking to learn about the risks of underage drinking and how you can talk to your teens and set firm rules against drinking.