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April is Alcohol Awareness Month
By Staff Writer
 In light of Alcohol Awareness Month, Nishendu Vasavada of University Behavioral Health in Denton, Texas, recently highlighted the negative effects of teen drinking and warning signs that adolescents are becoming involved in alcoholic behaviors. He warned that children who are exposed to alcohol use by their family members have a greater risk of emotional disturbances, behavioral problems and poor academic performance, along with alcohol addiction later in life. Moreover, the expert explained that kids who start drinking before the age of 15 are susceptible to more severe forms of alcoholism. Vasavada described several warning signs that may indicate that a teen is using alcohol. First, he said that many substance-using adolescents act out or get in trouble during school because of their risk-taking nature. He also noted that these individuals may exhibit extremes of responsible or irresponsible behavior. For example, they may care for their siblings and perform well academically, but act recklessly in social settings. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, males between the ages of 12 and 20 are more likely than their female peers to engage in binge drinking. Parents who struggle to control their child's drinking or negative behavior may consider enrolling them in boarding schools for troubled youth.
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