Addiction in Adolescence: Social, Developmental, and Neurobiological Implications
The current definition of addiction is anything that involves a recurring failure to control one’s own behavior which leads to continuing pathological behavior despite significant negative consequences (Cote, Rolland, & Cottencin, 2013, p. 1516). Adolescence is a critical developmental period between childhood and adulthood which encompasses major changes in social, physical, and psychological development. In adolescence, cognitive control ability is immature and creates a period of particular vulnerability and ability to adjust, which in turn may lead to higher incidences of addiction and affective disorders (Yuan et al., 2013, p. 1). There are several specific …show more content…
The adaptations that have been linked to drug and alcohol use during adolescence are strong impulsive reactions and impaired control functions, and strong correlations between adolescent binge drinking and the development of cognitive and emotional regulatory processes have been identified in both animal studies and cross-sectional studies in humans (Gladwin et al., 2011). Specific structural changes have been noted in the frontal cortex and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in adolescents who binge drink. Developmental problems in the frontal cortex and HPA axis may result in the disruption of inhibition, motivation, and attention, resulting in alcohol dependence in adulthood and potentially contributing to additional psychopathologies (Crews & Vetreno, 2011). Additionally, the early use of certain drugs (e.g. cocaine, cannabis) has been linked to the appearance of psychosis in patients who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia (Jeanblanc et al., 2014). Addiction to alcohol and other drugs are not the only addictions that result in changes in brain structures during adolescent development. Yuan et al (2013) have noted a reduction in the cortical thicknesses of the left lateral orbital frontal cortex (OFC), insula cortex, lingual gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, and inferior parietal cortex, as well as a thickening in the precentral cortex, precuneus, middle frontal cortex, inferior temporal, and middle temporal cortex of adolescents with online gaming addiction (p. 3). The decrease in cortical thickness of the OFC of online gaming addicts is similar to the decreases associated with drug addiction, and has been linked to dysfunction in decision-making, cognitive flexibility, and the ability to appropriately handle
The current definition of addiction is anything that involves a recurring failure to control one’s own behavior which leads to continuing pathological behavior despite significant negative consequences (Cote, Rolland, & Cottencin, 2013, p. 1516). Adolescence is a critical developmental period between childhood and adulthood which encompasses major changes in social, physical, and psychological development. In adolescence, cognitive control ability is immature and creates a period of particular vulnerability and ability to adjust, which in turn may lead to higher incidences of addiction and affective disorders (Yuan et al., 2013, p. 1). There are several specific …show more content…
The adaptations that have been linked to drug and alcohol use during adolescence are strong impulsive reactions and impaired control functions, and strong correlations between adolescent binge drinking and the development of cognitive and emotional regulatory processes have been identified in both animal studies and cross-sectional studies in humans (Gladwin et al., 2011). Specific structural changes have been noted in the frontal cortex and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in adolescents who binge drink. Developmental problems in the frontal cortex and HPA axis may result in the disruption of inhibition, motivation, and attention, resulting in alcohol dependence in adulthood and potentially contributing to additional psychopathologies (Crews & Vetreno, 2011). Additionally, the early use of certain drugs (e.g. cocaine, cannabis) has been linked to the appearance of psychosis in patients who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia (Jeanblanc et al., 2014). Addiction to alcohol and other drugs are not the only addictions that result in changes in brain structures during adolescent development. Yuan et al (2013) have noted a reduction in the cortical thicknesses of the left lateral orbital frontal cortex (OFC), insula cortex, lingual gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, and inferior parietal cortex, as well as a thickening in the precentral cortex, precuneus, middle frontal cortex, inferior temporal, and middle temporal cortex of adolescents with online gaming addiction (p. 3). The decrease in cortical thickness of the OFC of online gaming addicts is similar to the decreases associated with drug addiction, and has been linked to dysfunction in decision-making, cognitive flexibility, and the ability to appropriately handle