Teenage Addiction and the Brain - PowerPoint Presentation

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Teenage Addiction and the BrainSlide2

Most drug use starts and peaks during adolescence76.5% of all teens (<18 years of age) try an addictive substance

Alcohol 72%

Cigarettes 46%Marijuana 38%19.4% will meet the criteria for a substance use disorder

Brain development and the role of environmental triggers in substance abuse Slide3

Brief neurotransmission lesson

Diagram of a neuron

Neurotransmitter transmissionSlide4

No one sets out to become addictedFirst time use of any drug may be a choice but biology takes over in addiction

Every drug to which people can become addicted does so primarily because of the release of the neurotransmitter Dopamine

Dopamine is involved in regulation of movement, reward and punishment, pleasure, and energy

Brain chemistry and addictionSlide5

Synaptic changes occur with maturationThe fostering of these connections promotes life long learning

Connections can be impacted by substance use during adolescence; if they are not formed or are abnormal, they lead to misinformation Slide6

Gray matter develops between the ages of 5 and 20Nerve cells are covered with insulation (myelin) which is made up of fat

Insulated neurons travel together to make pathways

Myelination increases in adolescenceBrain development Slide7

Key brain regionsFrontal cortex – responsible for planning, strategizing and judgment – develops later in youth

Amygdala – responsible for emotional responses and assigns value to sensory stimuli

Hippocampus – responsible for memory formation and stress regulationCorpus Callosum – connects the hemispheres and is responsible for creativity and problem solving

How does the adolescent brain functionSlide8
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All drugs that have reward impact will increase dopamine levels in the part of the brain associated with reward and motivational behavior

Adults have the ability to regulate their amygdala better than teens

The adult cortex can “throttle things down” but the teen cortex is not developed enough to do that as wellSlide10

Dopamine activity in the prefrontal cortex during adolescence increases:

Impulsivity

Novelty/sensation seekingDrug rewardFood rewardThe adolescent brain functions differently when exposed to drugs

Drugs, dopamine and teensSlide11

Despite increased cognition and learning potential in the adolescent brain, they are more vulnerable because:

They respond strongly to rewarding stimuli

They have lower inhibitory controlAdolescents have less insight into their mistakes

So why are adolescents vulnerable?Slide12

The timing of exposure to drugs dictates part of its enduring actions

For example, the age of onset of alcohol use is a predictor of future abuse

Below age 15, 4 to 5 times more likely to develop alcoholism compared to those who start after age 21Alcohol dependence decreases 14% for every year a teen delays starting

How can this information be used in preventionSlide13

Age of onset: Early adolescent rats consume more alcohol than adult rats

Length of intoxication: Early adolescent rats consume more alcohol than adult rats

Alcohol inhibits ability to learn in adolescent rats more than in adult ratesThis research demonstrates increased impact of alcohol use in adolescence versus adulthood

Results of animal studiesSlide14

Adolescents are more inclined to be driven by rewards – use age appropriate approaches that support this tendency

Integrate prevention; gear toward general public, specific population or subgroup, and specific high risk individuals

Consider the brain when talking with teensTeens interpret situations with amygdala (from an emotional point of view) – remain calm, rationale and do not engage in emotional debate

Prevention Strategies