Neurobiology of adolescent substance use disorders
Abstract
There are many facets of the neurobiology of substance use that are distinct in adolescence as compared with adulthood. The adolescent brain is subject to intense subcortical reward processes, but is left with an immature prefrontal control system that is often unable to resist the pull of potentially exciting activities like substance use, even when fully aware of the dangers involved. Peer influences serve only to magnify these effects and foster more sensation-seeking, risky behavior. The unique aspects of neurobiology should be taken into consideration when designing prevention programs and clinical interventions for adolescent substance use disorders.
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Early onset of drug abuse is strongly related to the development of lifelong addiction.
“Early onset of drug abuse is strongly related to the development of lifelong addiction (1,2)”
From Impact of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms on Addiction Vulnerability in Adolescents (2018) · cites this paper as [2]
Adolescence is a particularly vulnerable time for initiating drug use and developing substance use disorders.
“Adolescence is a particularly vulnerable time for initiating drug use and developing SUDs.”
From Impact of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms on Addiction Vulnerability in Adolescents (2018) · cites this paper as [2]
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- Authors
- Sharma, A., & Morrow, J. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Washington (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Corresponding author
- Morrow, Jonathan D.
- Venue
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-07
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 367-375
- ISSN
- 1056-4993 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2334486395
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 0.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- adolescent substance use disorders, neurobiology of addiction, adolescent brain development, reward processing, prefrontal cortex, impulsivity, peer influence, sensation seeking, risk-taking, prevention programs, clinical intervention
- MeSH terms
- Peer Influence, Adolescent, Brain, Female, Humans, Male, Nucleus Accumbens, Stress, Psychological, Substance-Related Disorders, Adolescent Development
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