Posting #2
Topic: Health
Title: Teen Brain More Prone to Drug, Alcohol Damage
Writer: Elizabeth Landau
Publication Name: CNN
Date of Publication: 11/15/10
Length: 468 words
Main Idea:
Plenty of teens seem to enjoy the free and rebellious feelings that drugs and alcohol offer. These teens however, do not understand the long-term damage they're inflicting upon their brains and bodies. The brain is still developing through teenage years therefor, abusing drugs and alcohol can cause a terrible change in the path of development. Research has shown that the teenage brain is even more susceptible than the adult brain because it contains more receptors for the drug to latch onto. Teen brains have longer-lasting effects of getting high which can result in damage to parts involving learning and memory and a decrease in IQ. Teens are also much more vulnerable to drug addiction. Addiction for teens is usually much faster, stronger, and longer. The same consequences exist for alcohol abuse. Alcohol also has a greater impact on the teen brain because it binds to the multitude of receptors and creates larger problems for the developing brain. Researchers found that alcohol can interfere with connections in the brain related to the production of stress hormones. This interference can damage one's ability to handle stress, causing long term issues such as depression and anxiety.
Conclusion:
Teenagers all over the world use drugs and alcohol without fully understanding the impacts they have on them. Because the teen brain is still developing, it is much more susceptible to damage from drugs and alcohol than the adult brain. Teens that abuse these substances are very vulnerable and at risk for long term impairment to their brains and bodies.
This isn't a surprise. Drugs in general are a bad idea, and alcohol is harmful in excess. Teens have enough problems as it is, and adding drugs and alcohol just make it worse.
ReplyDeleteThis makes total sense. Since teens are growing, drugs obviously hurt their brains much more than adults. I agree with Crystal, teens have enough problems without drugs.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely, drugs and alcohol are being used way too much by teenagers. I did not know that alcohol interferes with the production of stress hormones, which can lead to depression and anxiety. After reading that drugs and alcohol present both long and short term effects to the brain, I am sure that my view will change on these substances.
ReplyDeleteAs Crystal said, this isn't big news at all. It's articles like these that remind teens in today's society of the consequences of drugs and alcohol. I believe that if more awareness was spread, then maybe some teens will change their lifestyle for the better.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising to me how, yes this is old news, but many teens are still prone to reaching for the bottle or the pot. If this is so obvious, I wonder why this addiction is still so abundant. With the many pieces of literature and articles such as the one you found, it is a mystery to me why teens would consciously choose to take part in such behaviors.
ReplyDeleteThe drug and alcohol rate has gone up in the last 5 years. Its obviously become a problem that needs to be taken care of fast!
ReplyDeleteI agree the amount of teenagers that use alcohol and drugs has gone up alot in the past years. It is new news to me that alcohol can cause stress of hormones and that can lead to depression and teenagers are to young to have to go through that.
ReplyDelete