Which of the following factors best supports the statement that drinking alcohol can affect a teenager's future?

• A. Teenagers who drink alcohol always become addicted as adults.
• B. Drinking alcohol has no impact on a teenager's decision-making abilities.
• C. Alcohol use during adolescence can impair brain development, leading to long-term cognitive and academic difficulties.
• D. Alcohol consumption in teens is only harmful if it occurs daily.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the question is asking which factor best supports the statement that drinking alcohol can affect a teenager's future, focusing on long-term consequences rather than immediate or absolute outcomes.
2. Step 2: Evaluate each option by considering psychological and developmental research on adolescent brain development and the effects of alcohol on cognition and behavior.
3. Step 3: Recognize that the statement about addiction ('Teenagers who drink alcohol always become addicted as adults') is an overgeneralization and not supported by evidence, so it is less accurate.
4. Step 4: Note that the statement 'Drinking alcohol has no impact on a teenager's decision-making abilities' contradicts established findings that alcohol impairs cognitive functions, especially in developing brains.
5. Step 5: Identify that the correct supporting factor is the one highlighting that alcohol use during adolescence can impair brain development, leading to long-term cognitive and academic difficulties, which aligns with psychological research on adolescent neurodevelopment.