Alcohol

Pretty much every teen knows what alcohol looks like, how it's packaged, and how it makes you feel. But what a lot of teens don't realize is that alcohol is a drug. Its scientific name is ethyl alcohol and it is classified as a depressant, the same drug class as a barbiturate or tranquilizer. Alcohol is unique because it is legal for adults to buy and drink and is widely accepted in our culture. In fact, alcohol is the most popular drug among youth and adults in our country.

Sadly, alcohol is also one of the most deadly drugs available to our youth today. The leading cause of death among teens in this country is alcohol-related traffic accidents. Alcohol also causes heart disease, high blood pressure, liver damage, brain damage, and many other health problems. Alcohol is an addictive drug. The medical term for this addiction is alcoholism. It strikes all age groups; about ten percent of the population will develop the disease.