Highlights
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- Adolescence is a time of important developmental and social growth. There are many interrelated factors that influence changes in a young person’s brain structure and function, and can have a long-term impact on their body, mind, and mental health.
- Adolescence is also a time of growing independence, exploration, and risk-taking. Teens may experiment with nicotine via cigarettes or vaping, alcohol, and marijuana, at a time when exposure to these substances can have a significant impact on brain development. Early use of alcohol and other substances can increase the likelihood of going on to use other drugs and of developing a substance use disorder.
- NIDA leads the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM Study (ABCD Study®), a long-term study of brain development and child health. The ABCD Study is researching the effects of substance use as well as environmental, social, genetic, and other biological factors on the developing adolescent brain.
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Learn More About the Adolescent Brain and Substance Use
- Find resources for parents and educators on the NIDA web site.
- See the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study web site. (ABCD Study®)
- Read about alcohol and the adolescent brain on the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism web site.
- See data on drug use in adolescents and young adults from the Monitoring the Future study.
- Learn about high-risk substance use among youth from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.