Teen Health: Substance Use and Abuse
Penn State PRO Wellness・2 minutes read
Substance misuse is prevalent among U.S. teens, with significant impacts on health and academic performance. Adolescents are more susceptible to drug abuse due to heightened dopamine activity, and seeking help through resources like 1-800-662-HELP is crucial in combating addiction.
Insights
- Substance misuse is prevalent among teens and young adults in the U.S., with alarming statistics showing high rates of drug, alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco use among high school students, driven by heightened dopamine activity in the reward center of the adolescent brain.
- Drug abuse poses serious health risks, impacting brain development in teenagers and leading to cognitive deficits, academic struggles, memory impairment, and social difficulties, emphasizing the importance of recognizing addiction as a brain disease and highlighting the availability of support through resources like the National Helpline and dedicated websites.
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Recent questions
What are common substances misused by teens?
Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco products.
What are the consequences of drug abuse on teens?
Poor grades, memory loss, social problems.
How does dopamine affect teen decision-making?
More active in reward center, sensitive to rewards.
What is addiction considered?
Brain disease affecting anyone.
Where can support be found for substance abuse?
Call 1-800-662-HELP or visit www.easyread.drugabuse.gov.
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Summary
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Teen Substance Misuse: Risks and Solutions
- Substance misuse, particularly among teens and young adults in the U.S., is a significant issue, with half of new drug users under 18 and one in five high school students abusing prescription drugs. A third of high school students use alcohol, 23% use marijuana, and 22% use various tobacco products. Decision-making in teens involves dopamine in the brain's reward center, which is more active in adolescents, making them more sensitive to rewards, especially in social settings.
- Drug abuse can have severe short and long-term health consequences, affecting the developing teenage brain by reducing the prefrontal cortex size, leading to issues like poor grades, memory loss, and social problems. Addiction is a brain disease that can affect anyone, regardless of income, job, race, or color. Seeking help is crucial, and support can be found by calling -800-662-HELP or visiting www.easyread.drugabuse.gov.
