The brain is a strange organ in the body. It is our greatest evolutionary adaptation and sets us apart from the rest of the animals on this planet. Researchers are constantly trying to unlock the mysteries of the mind in an effort to understand humans better and diseases that impact the mind. The study of the adolescent mind has only recently received the attention it deserves. Studies show the brain continues to growth throughout life, but it makes huge changes during adolescence.
Many people are skeptical about the “adolescent mind”; there is a shroud of mystery and doubt about it. It does sound strange, but the facts are overwhelming. In 15 years of study, researchers have discovered, the adolescent brain is greatly different in multiple …show more content…
With use of magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI) technology we have dicovered, structul differences in hippocampal and prefrontal cortex volumes (brain areas associated with memory, and executive functions of planning, inhibition, self-regulation, respectively) (Wetherill & Tapert, 2013). Adolescent who drink heavliy have a small hippocampal than a nondrinking non-drinking adolescent. The smaller hippocampal means that heavy drinking teenagers will have problems with memory, executive functions of planning,inhibitons, and self-regulation in the …show more content…
Adolescent and adults cannot be treated the same way for substance addiction. In the past, Wetherill and Tapert (2013) state, “evidence-based treatments for adults with substance use disorders have been applied to adolescents without considering the complex developmental differences between adolescents and adults”. But, using adult treatments for adolescent is ineffective, because adolescent show a willingness to “kick” the habit and lower intentions of using substances. Therefore, teens generally use drugs for a shorter period of time which results in a low dependence. While that is true, there are so much extreme external forces that drive them to use drugs and alcohol. Some perceived and some are very real.
Fact is teens, including young adults in their early 20’s are still growing and developing and drug usage and/or abuse during these years can have a lasting impact on their lives. If a survey was taken of teens in high school, more than half would say there drug/alcohol usage is not harmful to them, and most if truthful would admit they have tried or be willingly to try drugs. Another fact is, the brain is much more vulnerable to addiction during these years because it affects cognitive functions in the form of memory, concentration, and learning
Many people are skeptical about the “adolescent mind”; there is a shroud of mystery and doubt about it. It does sound strange, but the facts are overwhelming. In 15 years of study, researchers have discovered, the adolescent brain is greatly different in multiple …show more content…
With use of magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI) technology we have dicovered, structul differences in hippocampal and prefrontal cortex volumes (brain areas associated with memory, and executive functions of planning, inhibition, self-regulation, respectively) (Wetherill & Tapert, 2013). Adolescent who drink heavliy have a small hippocampal than a nondrinking non-drinking adolescent. The smaller hippocampal means that heavy drinking teenagers will have problems with memory, executive functions of planning,inhibitons, and self-regulation in the …show more content…
Adolescent and adults cannot be treated the same way for substance addiction. In the past, Wetherill and Tapert (2013) state, “evidence-based treatments for adults with substance use disorders have been applied to adolescents without considering the complex developmental differences between adolescents and adults”. But, using adult treatments for adolescent is ineffective, because adolescent show a willingness to “kick” the habit and lower intentions of using substances. Therefore, teens generally use drugs for a shorter period of time which results in a low dependence. While that is true, there are so much extreme external forces that drive them to use drugs and alcohol. Some perceived and some are very real.
Fact is teens, including young adults in their early 20’s are still growing and developing and drug usage and/or abuse during these years can have a lasting impact on their lives. If a survey was taken of teens in high school, more than half would say there drug/alcohol usage is not harmful to them, and most if truthful would admit they have tried or be willingly to try drugs. Another fact is, the brain is much more vulnerable to addiction during these years because it affects cognitive functions in the form of memory, concentration, and learning