ALCOHOL
The First Substance
This long-standing drug of choice among teens is an epidemic in Marin County, where the teen drinking rate is higher than both the state and national average. Propelled by easy accessibility, peer normalization, and adult modeling, alcohol is often the first substance used by youth.
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Beer, wine, and liquor are all made of the chemical compound ethanol, which is a depressant that impairs our body’s functions by slowing down our brain, our body coordination, our heart rate and breathing, our decision making ability, and our reaction time.
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That initial relaxing buzz can quickly turn into over-consumption, leading to a long list of problematic outcomes, like vomiting and hangovers, alcohol poisoning, and poor judgment that can lead to dangerous situations like car accidents and unsafe sex.
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Slurred or loud speech, lack of coordination, hangover symptoms.
