When teenagers become alcoholics their uncontrollable need for alcohol changes them, making them lose interest in people and activities that are not focused on drinking. Moreover, the more they drink, the more their judgment becomes impaired. The combined results are far-reaching. The damage that teen alcoholism causes impacts not only the teen, but also his or her friends and family, as well as society.

Destroyed friendships

Since a teen alcoholic’s primary interest is becoming intoxicated, many find that they no longer have anything in common with old friends who abstain from drinking alcohol. As a result, teen alcoholics often avoid these friends and replace them with new friends who drink. This often leads to the destruction of valuable long-term friendships. A young woman who lost her best friend in this manner explains:

We became best friends in second grade. We shared everything with each...