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…