The impact drugs have on the brain is especially dangerous, but with adolescents, the impact is greater because of their age and developmental factors. When teens use substances, they may not realize the damage they are causing, damage that can have life-long consequences. As we examine how drugs impact the adolescent brain, we will also share how adolescent treatment centers near Des Moines, such as Ember Recovery, can help teens overcome substance use disorders and live a sober life.
How Drugs Affect the Adolescent Brain
Statistics show that in 2023, 27% of students in grades 8, 10, and 12 have admitted to using illicit drugs at some point in their lives.[1] While this is a drop from a high of 43% in 1997, it is still a concerning factor that more than a quarter of children in those age groups had used drugs that have the ability to impact their developing brains.
Brain Development & Drug Use
Drugs can have a major impact on the adolescent brain because it is not yet fully developed. Substance abuse during the teen years can:
- Interfere with neurotransmitters and damage connections within the brain
- Create memory problems
- Reduce the ability to experience pleasure
- Inhibit the development of perceptual abilities
For many teens, the impact is not seen until further down the road. When teens use drugs, it can lead to long-term cognitive impairment and make them more prone to develop a substance use disorder as an adult.[2]
Adolescent Treatment Centers Near Des Moines, IA on Areas of the Brain Teen Drug Use Impacts
There are three main areas of the brain that are impacted by drug use:[3]
- The basal ganglia
This area is responsible for motivation and makes us want to do healthy activities like eating and socializing. When teens use drugs, the brain begins to feel pleasure. As teens use the drug heavily, the brain becomes dependent on it in order to feel pleasure.
- The extended amygdala
The extended amygdala is what causes stress. When teens use drugs, this part of the brain can become very sensitive. If the body tries to stop using drugs, this extended amygdala can trigger feelings of sickness.
- The prefrontal cortex
The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain behind the forehead and is responsible for decision-making. This is the last part to mature. Since the brain does not fully develop until people are in their mid to late 20s, the lack of development in this area is what makes it more difficult for teens to control their drug use, making addictive behaviors more likely.[4] When teens use certain drugs, their brains can fail to develop properly in the prefrontal cortex area.
The frontal lobe also regulates emotions. Since it is underdeveloped during the teen years, teens may struggle with stress and turn to unhealthy ways to cope, such as using drugs.[5]
The brain’s reward pathways, which encourage activities that make the body feel good, are very sensitive during adolescence. When teens use drugs, the balance of neurotransmitters is disrupted, which can lead to a cycle of dependence and abuse.
How Different Types of Drugs Impact the Brain
Not all drugs affect the brain in the same way. There are three main categories of drugs, each having a significant way they impact the brain:[6]
Depressants
Depressants cause teens’ brains and their nervous systems to slow down. When someone uses these types of drugs, their breathing and heart rate slows down and their energy level decreases. Heroin, cannabis, and other opioids are all examples of depressants.
When teens use cannabis, their brains react differently than when adults use it. Teens are less affected by the heightened anxiety and the reduced movement that it can cause, leading them to use it more often. This increased use can lead to issues such as memory problems, lower IQ, and other cognitive issues.[5] Early cannabis use has also been linked to a likelier risk of using other drugs later in life.
Since an adolescent’s reward system is still developing, they are also more sensitive to opioids, which leads them to become addicted quicker. The mix of their greater sensitization with their developing reward system can increase their risk of overdose and addiction.[5]
Stimulants
These drugs cause adolescents’ brains to become energized and act unusually fast. When young people use stimulants, their heart rates race, breathing intensifies, and body temperatures rise. Stimulants include cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants.
Teens are less sensitive to cocaine’s effects than adults. Because their sensitive reward system is still developing, they are more prone to addiction. Cocaine use can make a teen’s impulsive decision-making worse, causing them to use more, leading to possible long-term brain damage.[5]
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens give users a distorted perception leading to delusional thoughts. When teens take these drugs, they may see, feel, and hear things that don’t exist. Ketamine and magic mushrooms are both examples of hallucinogens.
Are You Looking for Adolescent Treatment Centers Near Des Moines, IA?
Ember Recovery is committed to helping adolescents overcome their substance use disorders. We offer residential programs for all teens that help them learn coping mechanisms to deal with their substance use, and how to live a sober life.
We also provide aftercare planning to help our patients readjust to living in the outside world and deal with the temptations that they may face. At Ember Recovery, our patient care does not end when the treatment program is complete.
Contact us today to learn more about the various adolescent treatment programs Ember Recovery provides.
Sources:
- https://www.statista.com/topics/3907/adolescent-drug-use-in-the-us/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3399589/
- https://www.cacsoaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/nida-mindmatters-drugs-and-brain.pdf
- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-teen-brain-7-things-to-know#
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/motivated-behaviors/202409/the-impact-of-drugs-on-the-teenage-brain
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/How-drugs-affect-your-body
Andrea Dickerson is a Licensed Therapist and Certified Substance Use Counselor who has worked in behavioral health since 1997. Currently, Andrea is the Director of Behavioral Health, overseeing the Ember residential treatment programs and YSS outpatient counseling clinics throughout Central and North Central Iowa. She became a Motivational Interviewing (MI) trainer in 2006 and provides MI trainings throughout Iowa.
Andrea specializes in working with adolescents and their families and enjoys seeing the family relationships grow through therapy. Andrea is also a CARF International Surveyor, going around North America ensuring behavioral health organizations are meeting required standards.
In her free time, Andrea enjoys cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs, as well as being an active member of Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA), a global organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. She has been a member of the SI of Des Moines club since 2012 and has been actively involved at the regional level, currently serving as Co-Governor of the Peaks to Plains Region.
Through her involvement in SIA, Andrea has been actively involved in the Dream Programs, coordinating annual Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls projects, which give girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse.