Addiction and the Teenage Brain

Addiction affects a wide variety of people regardless of race, economic status, or age. However, the drastic physical and cognitive changes that occur during Adolescence make the risk for addiction higher in some teenagers.

For this assignment, you will look at the connection between Adolescent development and susceptibility to addiction by completing this two-part writing assignment.

Part 1:

Briefly describe the physical development of the brain during Adolescence. Which areas are most significantly impacted and how does their development influence what could be considered “typical” Adolescent behavior?

Part 2:

What is it about the “teenage brain” that might make it more susceptible to addiction and the risk behaviors that are often associated with it?