Biology Proves That Alcohol Affects a Teen’s Developing Brain 
By Donna Bernier

Basically, your brain is much better than you think. 

Your brain can learn seven facts per second, every second for the rest of your life and you would still have room to learn more.

And each brain is unique -- no one is quite like you. The brain has unlimited synaptic connections, is multi-dimensional, and no one has fully used the capacity of her brain. And that goes for all of us.

So what about the adolescent brain? 

At the start of adolescence, we have billions of brain cells, each with tens of thousands of connections to other brain cells.

Not all of these connections are actually needed, and the unnecessary ones become eliminated. This elimination process is shaped by the young person’s activities and experiences, and the process helps the brain work more efficiently.

When this pruning process is complete, the brain is faster and more efficient.  But during this process, the brain is not functioning optimally. 

The maturation of brain structures generally occurs from the back of the brain to the front. 

There are four primary brain structures from back to front: cerebellum (physical, motor coordination), nucleus accumbens (motivation), amygdala (identifies and controls emotion and how much effort the person will expend in order to seek rewards) and prefrontal cortex (complex processing of information, from making judgments to controlling impulses, setting goals and plans -- the seat of “sober, second thought!”).

All of these are noteworthy in terms of how their maturation may impact adolescent behavior.

What the biology of the brain suggests is that an adolescent is more “under the influence” of the physical activity and emotional structures of the brain, compared to the judgment portion of the brain.

Ah-ha! That explains why adolescents:

-- Prefer sensation seeking and physical activities to ones that require complex thinking;

-- Show less than optimal planning and judgment;

-- Engage in more risk-taking and impulsive behaviors compared to when the person is older;

-- And are less inclined to consider the possible negative consequences of such risky behaviors.

Add to this the following evidence -- adolescents are more susceptible to the effects of alcohol, and the teen years are a high-risk period for developing an alcohol use disorder.

There is also a tendency for youth to have a diminished sensitivity to the negative effects of drinking and yet to have an enhanced sensitivity to the positive effects of alcohol -- a “recipe” for binge drinking.

Adults can play an important role by using their judgment to protect teenagers. 
And do not minimize the potential for young people to become addicted, particularly with alcohol. 

Parents, you can do it. Your judgment includes:

-- Promoting activities that capitalize on the strengths of the developing brain;

-- Assist your child with challenges that require planning;

-- Reinforce advice-seeking from you and other adults;

-- Educate teens about risk taking and negative consequences;

-- Never underestimate drug effects on developing brain;

-- Tolerate “oops” behaviors common during the teen years.

For more information including presentations on the adolescent developing brain, contact Bluegrass Prevention Center 859-225-3296.