Page 3 - Advancing Life - January 2026

ADVANCINGLIFE, FEBRUARY 2026 3
Issue 05 NEWS

By: Nancy Hornsby

he brain is one of the most
Tamazing and complex parts
of the human body. Scientists
have tried to fully map how it
works, but because it’s made
up of billions of neurons and
countless connections, this
task is still far from complete. The Teenage
The brain shapes who we are,
our personalities, our likes and
dislikes, and the way we think Brain and
and behave. When the brain
is damaged by injury, disease,
or substances like alcohol, it
can have serious effects on a Alcohol
person’s health and behaviour.

Teenage years are a time of
major brain growth and change,
which means the teenage brain
is especially sensitive to alcohol. age 13) increases the risk of drinking teens often have less irregular periods or lower Teen drinking isn’t just
In South Africa, drinking is a big developing alcohol dependence grey and white matter (the testosterone) “harmless fun” it has real effects
problem; many young people as an adult. tissues that help the brain • Thyroid function (which on how your brain and body
drink heavily, and alcohol is process information). They also affects metabolism and develop. The combination of an
easy to get. The tragic deaths Because young people make up show lower brain activity in energy) immature prefrontal cortex and
of 21 teens aged 13–17 in the almost a fifth of South Africa’s areas responsible for memory • Stress and mood regulation an overactive reward system
Eastern Cape on 26 June 2022 population, protecting their and self-control. • This can lead to issues like makes teenagers especially
showed just how dangerous this mental and physical health is key anxiety, depression, and vulnerable to alcohol’s effects.
culture of underage drinking to building a healthier country. Alcohol also affects the brain’s physical health problems.
can be. This article looks at how Why Teen Brains Are So reward system, which is • Alcohol, Risky Behaviour, and But the good news is that the
heavy drinking harms teenagers’ Vulnerable responsible for feelings of Mental Health brain has a remarkable ability to
health, brains, and behaviour. pleasure and motivation. This recover if you act early. Avoiding
The teenage brain is still system matures earlier than the Because the teenage brain alcohol, getting help when
The Health Impact of Teen developing, especially the PFC, which means teens might is still developing, it’s more needed, and supporting policies
Drinking prefrontal cortex (PFC), the part crave the “feel-good” effects of likely to make impulsive that protect young people
that helps you plan, make good alcohol before they’ve developed decisions. Alcohol makes this can make a huge difference.
Alcohol misuse is one of the decisions, and control impulses. the ability to manage impulses. worse by lowering self-control A healthy brain means better
world’s biggest health problems. This area doesn’t fully mature This imbalance can make it and increasing the desire for focus, better relationships, and a
It causes around 3 million deaths until your mid-20s. That’s why harder to stop risky drinking excitement or “reward.” This stronger future.
each year, about 5% of all deaths teens sometimes take risks or act once it starts. can lead to risky behaviours
worldwide. Africa has some of without thinking things through. such as: Protect your brain, you
the highest rates of alcohol- Alcohol and Hormones only have one.
related illness and death. When alcohol is added into the Alcohol doesn’t just affect • Drunk driving
mix, it can interfere with how • Violence or fights
In South Africa, many teens, brain cells communicate and the brain; it also disrupts • Unsafe sex, leading to ...teen drinking is
especially boys, binge drink even change the brain’s structure. the endocrine system, which unplanned pregnancies or linked to risky sexual
(that means drinking a lot in a Drinking during this critical time controls hormones that STIs
short time). But more girls are can lead to long-term problems regulate (or control) growth, • Substance abuse and addiction behaviour, injuries,
starting to do it too. Research with memory, learning, and reproduction, and mood. violence, poor mental
shows that teen drinking is decision-making. Heavy drinking can cause Teens who drink heavily are also
linked to risky sexual behaviour, hormonal imbalances that more likely to experience mental health, and even
injuries, violence, poor mental How Alcohol Affects the affect: health issues like depression, permanent changes to
health, and even permanent Brain anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and how the brain works.
changes to how the brain works. • Growth and puberty attention problems.
Starting to drink early (before Brain scans show that heavy- • Reproductive health (like

Teenage Pregnancy:

Who Is Really to Blame?

By: Zoe Duby gone up across the country. Harsh Judgments and Myths. –
Between 2017 and 2021, This can be a graphic made up
births among girls aged 10–14 of speech and thought bubbles.
n South Africa, many people increased by almost 49%, and
Iview teenage pregnancy as a among those aged 15–19 by In research done in Moretele in
moral problem. When a young about 18%. the North West and Newcastle
girl falls pregnant, she is often in KwaZulu-Natal, researchers
blamed and shamed. People call Research shows that becoming found that many people believe
her careless or disrespectful, and a mother too young can affect teenage pregnancy happens
this affects how she is treated a girl’s education, future job because girls are “loose,”
at home, at school, and at the opportunities, and physical “immoral,” or “badly behaved.”
clinic. However, blaming girls and mental health. It can also People often say things like,
has not helped reduce teenage affect the well-being of her baby. “These girls drink, smoke, and
pregnancies. In fact, the number Yet instead of giving support, go to taverns,” or “They get
of young girls giving birth has young pregnant girls often face pregnant just to receive the child
judgment and rejection. support grant.”