Effects of Drug Use on the Teen Brain

Teenage years are an influential time as children start to mature and move closer to adulthood. During this time, teens start to plan their futures as they continue to physically grow as well. The period of teenage years is filled with opportunities to improve on themselves.

Unfortunately, the events and influences during this time are not all positive. As they step towards independence, many teens start to brush aside the attention of their parents and the desire to stay close to their peers can lead to following the crowd – even if it’s into dangerous activities.

Teen drug addiction is a real issue that parents need to be aware of. In fact, by the eighth grade, over 16% of teenagers have used marijuana at least once. These numbers only increase throughout high school, and many seniors don’t feel as if trying drugs once – even substances like heroin and cocaine – is dangerous.

These changing attitudes about drug use have created a dangerous environment for teens, even those at the youngest end of the spectrum. Despite the perceived lack of risk, trying any drug once can be enough to lead to regular use, substance abuse, and even addiction. The combination of the major effects of drugs on the brain with the period of growth that teenagers are in can cause even further harm to their development.

How Drugs Interact With the Teen Brain

When someone abuses drugs or alcohol, they steadily introduce the effect of those drugs into the brain. Over time, the body starts to adjust itself so that whenever someone uses drugs, the body evens out to normal, instead of the high or depressed state the drugs create. This is what causes drugs to become less potent over time – and why users ultimately need higher doses and end up with severe withdrawal symptoms.

Besides opening the pathway for teen substance abuse, use of drugs at a young age can introduce further developmental effects to the brain. Because the teenage years are a time of growth, the brain is also further developing. Therefor drugs are even more potent. For example, the prefrontal cortex, which is the core of decision making, develops throughout the teenage years and even further into one’s twenties.

Increased Likelihood of Lifelong Substance Abuse

When teens use drugs, they put themselves at great risk for substance abuse and addiction. Because the teen brain is still developing, it creates a situation where the brain thinks that drugs are a part of their normal brain function. In fact, the younger that someone starts to use drugs, the more likely they are to continue their drug use throughout their life. It is also harder for these teens to detox without relapsing.

Impaired Focus

Many drugs aren’t only working to stimulate the brain, but there are also those that close off neurotransmitters to create loosened inhibitions and relaxed states of mind. Turning off these parts of the brain, especially through prolonged use, can damage the development of the parts of the brain that allow for focus and remaining attentive – even long after the teen is no longer taking a substance. This symptom can easily put teens at risk for further accidents.

Memory and Learning Difficulties

Just as teen drug use can contribute to a lack of focus, the same sorts of effects can also lead to difficulty with both short and long-term memory retention. When teens have difficulty remembering things, even when not under the influence of drugs, it can also cause learning problems. Both these effects can also last much later into life.

Worsened Emotional Problems and Disorders

Because of the behavior altering effects of many drugs, their continued use can then mask other emotional disorders and problems, such as:

· Depression

· Suicidal thoughts

· Anxiety

· Schizophrenia

· Mood swings

Besides making it more difficult to identify these problems, drug use can increase the severity of some conditions. For example, weekly marijuana use can double the risk of anxiety and depression, worsening already dangerous symptoms and behaviors. While not a direct causation, over one-third of teens suffering from clinical depression report drug use, creating significant health risks that can last a lifetime if untreated.

Brain Damage

In the worst cases, teens who use drugs can suffer from serious and sometimes permanent brain damage, again due to introduction of substances during a time of growth. Brain shrinkage, amnesia, impaired reasoning, fluctuating socialization, impaired learning, and even changes in sexual desire can all come about due to improperly developed or permanently influenced areas of the brain.

Additional Effects

Any further effects on the brain will vary depending on the drug, the amount used, and even by combinations of different substances. For instance, alcohol can combine with drugs to create dangerous effects. Depending on the substance, drugs can also go beyond the brain to impact other areas of the body.

Getting Help for Your Teen

Since several different factors can lead to teen drug use, abuse, and addiction, it’s important to recognize the warning signs. These can include breaking curfew, issues at school, sudden mood swings, declining interest in activities they previously enjoyed, missing money, and more. If you start to recognize these signs, act sooner rather than later, and start with a conversation.

Just as early drug use sets up the brain for a higher likelihood of addiction, early treatment increases the chances of a successful recovery, as well as lowers the risk of the more severe potential effects on the brain. If your teen is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, don’t wait to intervene. Providing a supportive environment can help aid recovery and create a brighter future for your teen.

No recovery process is simple, especially for teenagers who are facing a range of potential consequences from their substance use. At Windmill Wellness Ranch, we work to create a unique treatment plan that matches each patient’s circumstances and needs, while also taking into consideration the additional struggles that teens face when it comes to recovering from drug abuse and avoiding relapse.

We help teenagers recover and work to put them back on track for successful and enriching lives. Even though teen drug use presents difficulties, it is still possible to recover with the right help. Start treatment to help reduce the impact of drug addiction on your teen’s life. Whether they need outpatient treatment or residential rehabilitation, Windmill Wellness Ranch can provide the help your teen needs to overcome addiction and drug use.