en by a convenience store. Some parents are never around and don’t monitor the alcohol in their homes. Therefore, if a teen believes his parents will never notice any missing alcohol, they are more likely to use it at home.It may take some time and dedication to solve these problems, but it can be done. One of the smartest anti-alcohol tactics a parent can take is to keep a youngster on track academically, says Jerald Bachman (3). “The higher their grades, the less likely they are to use alcohol at all. So, no matter what it takes, tutors or whatever, see to their grades,” Bachman says (3). When a teen gets good grades their self-esteem is elevated and they are less likely to drink to feel good about themselves.The genetic predisposition to alcoholism is a serious problem for some teens. Unfortunately, some teens find out the hard way that they are predisposed to alcoholism. That is a big risk a teen takes when they decide to experiment with alcohol.Genes play a critical role in the development of milder forms of alcoholism. “Previous research has shown that people with an alcoholic family member have a two to four times higher risk of becoming alcoholic than members of the general population” (Kelly, 1).“Each of us begins life with a unique mix of neurotransmitters, some 50 different chemicals that carry signal between neurons, or nervous-system cells. Each of these neurotransmitters is produced by a particular type of neuron and taken up by another type through molecules called receptors. When a neurotransmitter links to a receptor, it activates a neuron” (Substance Dependence, 1).In recent years, scientists have learned that one neurotransmitter, dopamine, plays a pivotal role in substance dependence. Dopamine activates channels in the brain that register feelings of arousal, reward, and satisfaction (1). There is increasing evidence that in those who are substance dependent, the...
