Social, Neuroscientific, and Psychological Factors that Contribute to Alcohol Use Among Teenagers

Teenage alcohol causes many problems such as negatively impacting teenage physical and mental health, and potentially leading to behavior problems. Teenagers can be influenced by the habits and attitudes toward drinking by those around them, such as their friends or parents. Teenagers may also experience peer pressure from their friends to drink alcohol, which can initiate a cycle where drinking leads to increased alcohol intake and potentially alcohol use disorder, or addiction. Furthermore, factors like social media and marketing may convince teenagers to consume alcohol as well. Additionally, certain brain regions are implicated in the development of alcohol use disorder, including the limbic (i.e., reward) system and the prefrontal cortex, among others. Lastly, alcohol can negatively affect teenagers’ executive function and increase impulsivity. This paper will discuss the factors that lead to teenage alcohol use, the neuroscience behind it, and the psychological components.