Adolescent brain development is a process that continues into the early 20s. Drug abuse during this time can have lasting negative consequences on the brain. Drug abuse during brain development affects the frontal cortex. The widespread use of drugs during brain development has many grave consequences for children and adolescents, including learning disabilities, behavior disorders, memory loss, inability to think rationally or control impulses, reduced academic performance or poor school attendance, impaired decision-making skills that are affected by emotions rather than logic, decreased ability to succeed in school. During teenage brain development, the human brain undergoes a growth spurt during adolescence, and this is when the brain is most vulnerable to the negative effects of drugs and alcohol.
The brain develops rapidly during adolescence, and this is when the brain is most vulnerable to the negative effects of drugs and alcohol. The prefrontal cortex is still developing during adolescence, so it’s important for teens to avoid drug and alcohol abuse.
Today, one-fifth of the world’s population is under 15 years old (about 1.2 billion children). Drug abuse during brain development affects 5% to 20% of this young population (300 million to 600 million children). The widespread use of drugs by children and adolescents has become a major public health problem in most countries. This is the first known generation of children that are growing up with an increased risk for substance use disorders.
For the past 30 years, the epidemic of substance abuse among children and adolescents and its effects on society and families has been an alarming social problem. According to statistics from the World Health Organization, more than one-half of today’s young people between 15 and 19 years old have used drugs at least once during their lifetime.
One of every six children between the ages of 13 and 14 years old takes drugs. Among children under 12 years old, half have used drugs at least once. The number of children with drug-related problems is continuously increasing every year.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to substance abuse because normal brain development continues until late adolescence, usually until age 25 or 30 years. Children and adolescents are at risk for drug abuse because their brains are not fully developed. The use of drugs during brain development changes the way the brain works, affects behavior, and alters other important abilities, such as memory, thinking, and reasoning.
The effects of drug abuse during brain development
The abuse of alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs can have a significant influence on the physical and mental development of children. Changes in brain structure and function are associated with these substance-use behaviors. These changes are not limited to the duration that substances are used because early substance use has been shown to affect IQ, attention, academic achievement, social skills, and the ability to control emotions.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, drug use during brain development can lead to impairments in judgment, decision-making, and motor skills. Substance abuse can result in further health problems later in life, including damaged brains; physical dependence; addiction; severe withdrawal symptoms that can be potentially fatal; and death.
Drugs are addictive substances that change the way the brain works by altering the strength of communication between nerve cells. These drugs have many harmful effects on children’s developing brains. The use of alcohol or tobacco in childhood can be particularly damaging to some brain areas that are not fully developed until age 25 or later. These regions of the brain, known as “executive centers,” control memory, concentration, learning, problem-solving skills, impulse control, judgment, and decision-making.
Over time, using drugs or alcohol can cause severe damage to the developing brain. Impaired thinking reduces the ability to learn and maintain emotional control. The ability to make good decisions and resist peer pressure can be negatively affected. This behavior is often repeated until it becomes a habit.
Drug abuse during brain development affects the way the brain processes information and regulates essential body functions. The changes it causes can disrupt emotional balance, which may lead to self-destructive behavior. These effects are often irreversible because once nerve cells die, they do not grow back. Drugs that cause addiction vary in their effects but ultimately interfere with the brain’s reward system and ability to develop control over impulses. The brain responds by inducing a ” craving ” for drugs and causing withdrawal symptoms if access is denied.
Cigarette smoking during brain development is associated with depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, and aggressive behavior. Nicotine restricts the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain, which can cause a decline in grades. It also affects memory and reduces recall time while under pressure.
Alcohol dependence among adolescents can result in life-long cognitive deficits, such as memory loss and learning issues.
As the use of drugs continues, these changes become more profound. As a person’s drug-taking habits increase, they spend less time engaged in socially acceptable activities. The person’s memory and ability to learn may decrease because nerve cells are damaged or die.
One of the best ways to prevent drug addiction is by limiting a teen’s exposure to drugs. Parents can help their children avoid drug abuse by being involved in their lives, talking with them about the dangers of drug use, and making healthy choices.
To be successful at this, parents must first educate themselves on the facts surrounding drugs and their effects on the human body. Education helps parents understand why their children are susceptible to drug abuse, how it changes the brain, and what they can do if they suspect their child is using drugs. It is also helpful for adults to set a good example by staying sober themselves.
How to limit a teen’s exposure to drugs?
Talk with your children from an early age about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. You can also use a book to show examples of drug abuse in a person’s life, such as arrest records, lost jobs, failed relationships, or illnesses caused by drug use.
Early drug use can also lead to the development of a substance use disorder or addiction later in life.
Make your home a safe place for communication. If your child is looking to talk about something, make them feel comfortable doing it with you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like, “Is there something wrong?” or, “Why do I sense something is bothering you?” Teens may respond better to questions than orders.
Be aware of your child’s activities. Know who they are hanging out with and how they spend their time outside of school. If you have a nagging feeling that something is off, it probably is. Trust your gut instinct because it could save your child’s life.
If you suspect your child is using drugs, sit down and talk with them about it. Don’t threaten or interrogate. Ask them questions like, “Why do you think people use drugs?” or, “What are your reasons for doing it?”
How to know if someone is using drugs?
- Illicit drug use during adolescence can interfere with brain development and lead to impairments in judgment, decision-making, and motor skills.
- If you find small baggies, burners (needles), small pipes, or rolled-up dollar bills at your teen’s place, you can pretty much assume they are using drugs.
- If someone continues to use a drug, even after knowing the health risks and problems it causes, chances are they have a problem.
- If someone is grouchy or irritable when they should be happy or very sleepy when they should be active, this could be a sign of drug use.
- If someone is secretive about what they do or where they go, this could also mean that person is using drugs.
A good way to tell if someone might be involved in substance abuse and addiction and whether it’s time to step in and get help starts with the questions: “Do you ever try to control your drug use? and have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drug use?”
In summary, drug abuse during brain development can lead to various health problems later in life if people continue to use drugs as they age. These include damaged brains, physical dependence, addiction, severe withdrawal symptoms that can be potentially fatal, and death. Many factors influence drug use, including genetics and the environment in which an individual lives.
An intervention helps the individual accept treatment for their addiction or substance abuse problem. Counseling and therapy can also help with drug addiction, along with medication and group counseling.
If someone you love is struggling with drug abuse, don’t wait to offer help. Drug use during brain development is a serious business and can greatly affect the life of the user. If your child is using drugs, it’s important to remain calm, provide loving support, make them feel comfortable talking with you about what they are going through, most importantly, help them get the rehabilitation services they need.
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