A government report published in early 2024 found that 12,418 young people were in alcohol and addiction services between 2022 and 2023. This was a 10% increase from the previous year, showing that teenage drug addiction is a continuing issue that needs to be better understood and addressed.
Addiction can have long-lasting effects. This is no secret, and it’s especially true when it comes to the brain. You should know about the effects of drugs on brain development, how susceptible teens are and what support is out there for young people.
Understanding the Impact of Drugs on the Developing Brain
Adolescence is a time of change. Going through puberty doesn’t just mean a growing and changing body. Your brain is also maturing during this time, growing to its full size and developing. This process can last until your mid-20s and can have a big impact on what you are like for the rest of your life.
Drug use is always dangerous, but especially during adolescence, substances can interfere with this critical time for brain development – resulting in long-lasting damage.
As time goes on, we are becoming more aware of the link between the brain and drug use. The latest research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has suggested there is a clear link between brain structure differences and drug use.
How Does the Brain Develop During Adolescence?
Adolescence is a time when your brain grows and matures in many ways, most notably in the areas responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and memory.
Grey matter in your brain is pruned away while white matter increases, improving your brain’s efficiency. This begins first in the back of the brain, the amygdala. The prefrontal cortex is the last part of the brain to mature – the area responsible for decision-making. Because of this the amygdala, involved with emotions, impulsivity and instinct, takes over. This means teenagers are more impulsive and don’t think things through.
The Effects of Drugs on Brain Development
The brain is full of chemicals called neurotransmitters that carry information between neurons via synapses. Drugs affect neurotransmitters by imitating, disrupting and increasing the release of them, impacting the communication between cells.
A prolonged imbalance in brain chemicals can lead to your brain changing structure. This can have lasting consequences on your brain function. Cognitive deficits, emotional regulation issues and the increased risk of mental illness are all possibilities.
The NIDA study from last year also goes into further explanation about brain structure differences and drug use. The differences were more clearly seen in the cortex, the outermost layer of the brain that is involved in decision-making.
Why Adolescents are More Vulnerable to Drug-Induced Brain Changes
The effects of drugs on brain development can be significant in the long term, especially during adolescence. Your brain cells aren’t as insulated and less protected by myelin, so the messages they receive are much more intense. This means that when addiction starts to hijack your reward system, it is done so more powerfully.
When this happens during your teen years, it can lead to permanent damage. It means you are more likely to develop an addiction in later life. The recent research performed by NIDA found that the changes in brain structure in adolescents due to addiction can play a role in developing further substance abuse issues in the future. The regions that differed are linked to impulsivity and sensation seeking – both risk factors of addiction.
Can the Brain Recover from Drug Use?
The good news is that the brain is resilient and with sustained abstinence and lifestyle changes, an adolescent brain can recover. This recovery is possible due to your brain’s neuroplasticity, meaning its ability to adapt and change due to internal or external stimuli. In the way that people can recover their ability to speak after having a stroke, their brains can start to function better without substances.
In some cases, the changes that addiction makes to your brain can’t be recovered from. In the long-term, your ability to manage emotions and stress can be forever damaged and you will lack the ability to control cravings – meaning relapse is always a danger.
More complete recovery is possible with professional addiction treatment. Therapies, cognitive rehabilitation and professional support are helpful in your brain rewiring itself to become as effective as it once was.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Effects of Drug Use on the Brain
It’s important to know how drugs affect the adolescent brain and what the long-lasting costs may be.
Short-term effects include:
- Impaired memory
- Poor decision-making
- Increased impulsivity
- Lowered reaction times
Long-term effects include:
- Lasting changes in brain structure
- Heightened addiction risk
- Learning difficulties
- Problems with emotional regulation
Different substances can affect brain function differently:
- Frequent cannabis use can result in altered brain development, a significant decline in IQ and an increased risk of chronic mental disorders such as schizophrenia.
- Alcohol can disrupt messages between brain regions, affecting coordination, judgement and memory. An alcohol addiction will cause brain cells to die and result in a shrink in brain volume.
- Stimulants can cause a decrease in brain plasticity, decrease cognitive function and behavioural flexibility.
- Opioids can disrupt breathing and mood regulation and hijack your reward system, leading to quick addiction.
How to Prevent Early Drug Use and Protect Brain Development
No matter how bleak the situation may seem, there are things you can do to help prevent substance use and brain changes in teens.
Education and Awareness
Educating teens about drug use is the greatest prevention tool. Even adults don’t always think things through so if teens don’t know all the consequences of drug use, how can you expect them to be careful? Utilising wide-ranging programmes in schools and finding those more at risk can help everyone become more knowledgeable about the impact of drugs on cognitive function and other consequences.
Parental and Community Support
Parents need to be in the know but not overbearing. The support system for teens needs to be strong, they need to feel comfortable about talking about drugs and alcohol. With honesty and empathy, parents, children and the wider community reduce the likelihood of substance use. It’s important to stress to younger people that while drug use can be bad for them it doesn’t make them a bad person for slipping up or having questions.
Early Intervention
Substance abuse that is allowed to progress will more likely turn into addiction. Early intervention can prevent the situation from worsening. Teens can quickly become more aware of their issues, learn healthier coping mechanisms and have a plan and support system in place to stop the substance abuse from progressing further – preventing long-lasting brain development issues.
Seeking Help for Substance Use Disorders
Stopping teen addiction before it worsens is the best way to stop the effects of drugs on brain development. If left, the problem will only worsen.
Early intervention sometimes means asking for help from professionals. While this may seem stressful in the moment, getting professional help is the most effective way to counter the issues you are facing.
At Action Rehab, we can make you aware of the many treatment options available for younger people. A comprehensive treatment programme will involve a thorough detox programme, therapies and long-term support that gives younger people the best chance of achieving full recovery.
If you are struggling with addiction or concerned about a loved one, don’t hesitate and get professional help now. You’ll quickly get access to expert support and advice from people who are capable of addressing your concerns.
Get Help with Adolescent Drug Addiction Now
Adolescents are particularly susceptible to drug use impacting brain development. This is because a lot of changes are going on and this time. Even though the brain can bounce back, some effects may remain forever – affecting development and leaving people more at risk of developing an addiction later in life.
To reduce teen substance abuse, education and professional support are vital. Action Rehab is an advisory service and we have a large database of drug rehabs so you get the support you need.
Start the journey now and help yourself or someone at risk in their recovery. Call now at 0151 268 6992.
Posted on Friday, February 21st, 2025 at 9:45 am in Addiction.
Call Us
Contact Us