Triggering (Substances): I need someone to tell me the risks of Vodka.

[FONT=""][COLOR=""][SIZE=""]I am a 15 year old boy, and for years my grandpa has snuck me beer at my birthdays which has fueled an alcohol addiction. It physically hurts me to not drink alcohol. I have tried; Beer, Moscato, White Wine, and once I tried Rum. Recent I developed severe depression after a lose of a pet cat I thought of as a brother and this has fueled my addiction pain. The reason I ask about Vodka is I know it is extreme, I know that especially at a young age like I am it can be deadly if you don't know how much to drink or within what time span to drink it. However all that i have around right now that would be easy to steal is Vodka, I am truly desperate. Please tell me the risks involved with Vodka at such a young age.[/size][/color][/font]

[Arabesque- golfing girl.]

Hello and thank you for coming onto Teenhelp and telling us about what you have been going through. I am sorry you are going through this, drinking a lot of alcohol at a young age is not a good idea, it can hurt you and you will want to do this all of the time. I have two articles on drinking alcohol if you would like to read them when you have time, they are https://www.helpguide.org/articles/a...e-drinking.htm and https:// and
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publication...erage-drinking Would you be able to try talking to someone about what you have been going through so they can help you? Would you be able to talk to your parents or a friend's parents or someone at school and let them in on this so they can help you to be okay soon, you can even write a letter so you are not saying it out loud if this is better for you. I hope you will be okay soon and someone can help you to be okay soon.

[Silvan]

Hi,

thanks for reaching out. I'm really sorry about what you've been through and that you've been struggling.

Addiction can destroy lives - not only yours, but of those around you, too - as well as your body and mind. Vodka is strong alcohol that, consumed regularly and/or in large quantities, would lead to irreversible changes in your brain and other organs. Since your organism is not fully developed yet, alcohol would most likely impede or stop the natural development.
https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm

What is more, addiction may lead to financial problems (spending all one's money on the substance), difficulty studying/working/maintaining a job (spending most of one's time intoxicated), as well as relationship problems (difficulty making and keeping friends or romantic partners, and hurting those that stay).

Addiction is a vicious cycle which gets worse and more difficult to break out of every time you give in. However, it's a very good sign that you are so young yet aware of the problem and its possible consequences. What happened to you isn't your fault, and you're on a good path asking and seeking help here! As Emmie asked above, is it possible for you to contact some adults about your problem? If you don't want to involve people you know, perhaps you could get in touch with some NGOs or local communities that specialise in this topic. Depending on where you're located, there might even be a community group your age. Reaching for help is crucial, and everything will be much easier to bear if you find some supportive people around you. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and if you need any further help, don't hesitate to reach out here, via DM or Discord. Me or any other Staff member will always be happy to help you as much as we can. Take care! xx Sue

[Ambedo.]

Hey,

Thank you for reaching out to us!

While vodka isn't inherently dangerous, it can become dangerous with excessive consumption. It sounds like you might be at risk for that. When alcohol is consumed to excess, it can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can lead to a lot of health risks. On top of that, if you're already noticing alcoholic tendencies in your behavior, drinking will only continue to fuel that. Active addiction comes with its own set of risks, including financial troubles, issues with family/friends/partners, risky and reckless behavior, and withdrawal symptoms if you're not able to feed the addiction.

I really am sorry to hear about your cat. It's definitely understandable that it feels like alcohol would help ease some of the pain caused by the loss. But, it isn't worth the risks, especially with the behaviors you're already noticing. Finding another outlet for your emotions is a much healthier, safer route. Is there someone in your life that you can talk to about what you're feeling? Even though it won't bring your cat back, being able to share your emotions can be extremely helpful. It may also help if you find ways to honor your cat, such as creating a memorial for him or writing about your feelings and favorite memories with him. It might take some trial and error to find the best outlet for you, but it will be worth it in the long run.

I've experienced alcohol addiction myself, so please feel free to PM me if you want to talk about this more or would like some tips for quitting. You are stronger than the addiction.

Take care,
Sam

[Proud90sKid]

Vodka gets you fucked up very quickly. It is essentially just (usually) 40 percent ethanol dissolved in water (that is why most are labelled 80 proof: the "proof" number is simply double the percentage alcohol by volume. While many call certain vodkas "smooth", I feel it lacks the "character" and special flavor notes that other liquors like whiskey or brandy (distilled wine) have. Expensive whiskey is flavorful. Expensive vodka is simply a mixture that is closer to 40 percent alcohol solution. Some people like to say that good vodka has "no flavor" -that's bullshit because ethanol itself has a very powerful flavor. What they really mean is that some of the impurities that impart a different flavor are distilled or processed out. There really isn't "good" tasting Vodka. It does have the advantage of being more versatile in mixed drinks than most other liquors however (due to not really having a taste beyond ethanol).

But about safety: because vodka gets you fucked up so quickly, it is harder to judge your level of intoxication and easier to drink a lot more than you think over a short period of time if you aren't experienced with drinking. The biggest risk to someone your age would be a blackout and then doing something reckless like driving a car. Or you get wasted at an inopportune time like at school or in front of your parents. Alcohol poisoning is a more remote risk, but still happens - almost exclusively from liquors. Alcohol poisoning is when you drink a lot of alcohol in a short period of time and essentially overdose on it.

Studies also show that people who drink heavily at your age often become alcoholics as adults. This could be due to the fact that many behaviors that would be alcoholism as an adult are not so as a teen with different social structures (ie. drinking at school is different than drinking at work but doing the first while young may lead to the latter while older). You may feel tempted to put it in a water bottle and bring it to school: I know I was when I was your age. The thing is, is that high school teachers really watch out for that stuff more than you think and that with vodka, you are likely to get drunk enough to where one day the wrong person notices. It would take just a couple more sips from the bottle than you calculated to completely ruin your day. Or maybe an observant teacher catches on that you are sipping that water bottle in a way not typical for water (people subconsciously drink alcohol very differently than water) or you make a weird face. Schools typically go very hard on students who do stuff like this in my experience. It's hard to hide that you are drinking, even as an adult because of the alcohol breath (it absolutely is not true that vodka has no smell on the breath and don't let anyone convince you otherwise....it might not have odors of wine or beer but alcohol and its metabolite acetaldehyde have a distinct smell that everyone will easily recognize and notice....it comes from your lungs not your mouth so it isn't possible to rinse it out), the hangover, and the disinhibited behavior.

Keep in mind that in the US, many states have a lower ABV cutoff for people under 21 when it comes to DUIs. I don't think it is a fair law, but these regulations nevertheless exist. The limit for under 21s is basically nothing. You can legally get a DUI at your age in many US states by only having one drink. Even though you wouldn't actually be under the influence, you would be considered so under the law. That will have huge impact on car insurance rates, which are typically high for a teenage male to begin with.

If you are susceptible to it and your drinking pattern became daily rather than binging, acute pancreatitis is one alcohol-related disease that can actually happen when you are still young. It is more likely to occur from daily consumption of liquor than either beer or binge drinking. I had my first attack at 21 and it was from vodka. I read a story about someone who developed lifelong CHRONIC pancreatitis and is in daily pain from it....he is only 25. I have seen other stories like that. It is uncommon but one of the risks.

I have experienced alcohol addiction before and now I completely avoid hard liquor/spirits. I stick to beer. Liquor always ends bad for me. I get way too drunk from it, blackout and drive, and like I said sometimes get organ damage sick from it. If you are having alcohol issues or suspect you might be showing alcoholic tendencies, then that is a sign you should AVOID spirits and only drink beer or wine if you are going to drink at all. Alcoholism tends to become exponentially worse when liquor/spirits are the main beverage and your drinking days will be shorter in number if you start them off being an excessive daily vodka drinker. Vodka is ok only in moderation. Cheap vodka is often the drink of choice among rock bottom alcoholics.

You said you have pain when you don't drink. Do you drink daily more than 10 "beers" worth of alcohol? Do you get the actual shakes already at 15 (where when you extend your hands while sober, you see clear tremors)? If yes to both, that is potentially dangerous withdrawal and if you are at that point, try to taper off as soon as you can using beer or maybe even go to medically assisted detox. If just cravings, then just stop and white knuckle it until the cravings have subsided.

How do you drink Vodka properly? You either have it in a mixed drink, drink only one or two shots complimentary to beer, or you allow all the vodka time to kick in from the previous shot before taking another. Never drink directly from the bottle- that is alcoholic behavior.