Teen drinking doubles the risk of early death, a new study reveals
Specialists have discovered a link between life expectancy and alcohol consumption during teenage years. Abusing alcohol before turning fifteen almost doubles the risk of early death.
1:02 PM EDT, September 20, 2024
Scientists from a university in Florida studied almost 15,000 people. They demonstrated that alcohol consumption after the age of 15 increases the risk of premature death by 20 percent.
The research, which began in 1980, included individuals aged 15 to 47 who were asked about their alcohol habits and the age they started drinking. The data obtained were studied for a long period of time. The analysis lasted three decades.
Early binge drinking creates lifelong habits. It can lead to disorders that are difficult to eliminate later, says the lead author of the study, Dr. Hui Hu.
Early alcohol consumption is a significant risk for future alcoholism
The statistics are alarming. Thirty-seven percent of people who drank before the age of 15 suffer from alcoholism in adulthood. In contrast, among those who did not drink in their youth, the percentage of alcoholics is only eleven percent. Researchers from Florida emphasize that early alcohol consumption can lead to the development of tendencies toward risky behaviors.
During the study, twenty-six percent of people who drank in their youth died. For comparison, twenty-three percent of those who started drinking later died, and nineteen percent of non-drinkers died. The reason is clear. Scientists unanimously point out that the main cause of earlier deaths is alcoholism.
Consuming alcohol at a young age affects a range of health-related problems. Abusing high-proof drinks significantly disrupts the maturation process and hinders the proper functioning of the nervous system.
