Teen brains more at risk for addiction than adults

Researchers from Children’s Hospital Boston revealed that a teen’s brain is more likely to be damaged by drugs and alcohol than a fully developed adult brain, reports CNN.

Officials told the news source that brain development is very active in teen brains and that drugs or alcohol can cause further damage. They added that the effects of the intoxication associated with drug use are longer-lasting in adolescents than in adults because there are likely more receptors for the drug to bind to.

Furthermore, research from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science found that addiction could be a form of learning and that teens can be more susceptible to developing a habit. Officials told the news source that teen brains learn handily and are more likely to develop stronger addictions.

Teen boarding school can help teens who suffer from addictions by designing therapy programs to promote healthy behaviors.

According to the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly 21 percent of teens between grades 9 and 12 reported using marijuana one or more times in the 30 days leading up to study.