How does the stage of brain development impact an adolescent's vulnerability to addiction?

The brain reacts differently to substances at different developmental stages. Drugs can exert long-lasting impacts on the developing adolescent brain, increasing vulnerability to addiction.

Influences on Drug Use

10th Grade•70 minutes•The aim of this lesson is to equip students with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and practical strategies to analyze internal and external influences on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.By understanding these influences, students will be better prepared to make informed decisions about their own health and support others in their journey toward a substance-free lifestyle.

Learning Objective

I can analyze how internal and external factors influence alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.

Key Concepts

Two main factors that contribute to addictive behaviors in adolescents include biological and environmental factors.

The prefrontal cortex, responsible for planning and cognitive development, fully develops around age 25, which may explain increased risk-taking behaviors in adolescents.

Digital phenotyping uses data from smart devices to predict relapse with 77% accuracy, offering clinicians a way to support high-risk individuals.

Practice Questions

This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.

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1. According to the video, what are the two main categories of factors that contribute to addictive behaviors in adolescents?

2. Explain how genetics can influence an adolescent's risk of developing an addiction.

3. List three environmental factors that can increase an adolescent's likelihood of developing addictive behaviors.

...and 9 more questions

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Learning Objective

Key Concepts

Practice Questions

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