Binge Drinking Might Not Be Good For Teen Brains

“Exposing young people to alcohol could permanently disrupt normal connections in the brain that need to be made to ensure healthy adult brain function.”
 — Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine professor Tony Pak remarks on a study showing that binge drinking “during the critical adolescent period of development can have permanent effects on the brain,” leading to anxiety and depression. Okay, sure, we could blame the alcohol, or maybe we could just admit that it doesn’t get much better, and anyone who is binge drinking during high school is probably already anxious and depressed. We just learn to self-medicate more efficiently as time goes on. I mean, sure, drink responsibly or whatever, teens! It’s good for your heart, and you’re gonna want to destroy those brain cells even more once you grow up, so take care of them now.