Adolescent alcohol use is a major public health problem. Youths who drink alcohol are more likely to experience many negative outcomes including academic, social, and legal problems, in addition to unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity.1,2 Biologically, adolescence is characterized by strong neuronal plasticity, with sprouting and pruning of synapses, myelinization of nerve fibers, and changes in neurotransmitter concentrations and their receptor levels in brain areas essential for behavioral and cognitive functions.3 Adolescent drinkers are at higher risk for changes in brain development that may have life-long effects.3 Long-term alcohol misuse is associated with liver disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurologic damage, as well as psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety, and antisocial personality disorder.4
