Alcohol — What It Does to Your Body and Judgment

What if someone told you there’s a substance that makes you slower, clumsier, and worse at making decisions, but people still use it to have fun? That substance is alcohol, and it’s the most commonly used substance among teens worldwide. Understanding how it actually works is the first step to making smart choices for yourself.

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. That’s a scientific way of saying it slows your brain down. Think of your brain’s control panel having a dimmer switch. Alcohol turns that switch down, affecting everything your brain controls.Here’s what happens:Judgment gets cloudy. The part of your brain that makes good decisions is the first to get dimmed. This is why someone who has been drinking might do things they would never do sober.Coordination suffers. The connection between your brain and your body slows down. This leads to stumbling, slurred speech, and slower reaction times.Memory gets patchy. Alcohol can interfere with the brain’s ability to form new long-term memories.A teen’s body also processes alcohol differently than an adult’s. You have less of a special enzyme that help...

Aisha, 13, was at a birthday party when some older kids showed up with drinks. Her friend, Leo, had one to seem cool. At first, Leo was just louder and goofier. But soon he was stumbling and looked pale. Then he rushed to the bathroom and got sick. Aisha’s stomach twisted with worry. She saw the other kids either laughing or ignoring it. She was scared of getting in trouble or being called a snitch, but Leo looked really bad. She remembered learning that alcohol is a depressant that can shut parts of the body down. Taking a deep breath, she found the birthday girl’s mom and quietly told her what was happening. The mom immediately went to help Leo and called his parents. Leo was okay, but he needed help. Aisha realized that protecting a friend isn't snitching; it's being a true friend.