Health department spreading awareness about dangers of teen drinking

berrien-county-health-department-2267616
berrien-county-health-department-2267616

The Berrien County Health Department is spending April educating young people about the dangers of underage drinking. Prevention specialist Lisa Peeples Hurst tells us the message is often about how alcohol can harm a young person’s brain.

“There is some brain science that tells us that the human brain doesn’t stop growing physically until age 21 to 25,” Peeples Hurst said. “So, if you introduce any substance, but especially alcohol, to a developing adolescent brain, it can do some damage even before the brain has reached full development.”

Hurst says in 2021, 29% of Berrien County high school students reported having alcohol in the last month, while this year, the number is down to 25%. However, alcohol is still the number one substance used by young people, even edging out vaping. Peeples Hurst notes parents also need to hear the health department’s message, noting there are legal consequences for giving alcohol to a young person. You can find information on teens and drinking right here.