Youth Substance Use: Understanding the Risks and How to Respond

Misusing substances can be harmful to the human brain at any age, but for children and adolescents, it can be especially damaging. Young people’s developing brains are especially vulnerable to the chemical effects of drinking, smoking, and other illicit substances. And in addition to hindering brain development, numerous other risks come with using substances as a youth. To avoid the negative consequences of adolescent substance use, preventative measures such as education and open communication are key.

How Substance Use Impacts the Developing Brain

As outlined by the National Institute of Health (NIH), drinking and substance use impact the brains of young people in a variety of ways. Here are four of the primary consequences substance use and drinking have on neurodevelopment:

1. Hippocampus: Memory and Learning

• The hippocampus is responsible for memory formation and navigation.
• Studies show that drinking and drug use during adolescence can hinder hippocampal development, leading to memory problems and learning difficulties.
  

2. Prefrontal Cortex: Decision-Making and Emotional Control

• The prefrontal cortex governs reasoning, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
• Because this region doesn’t fully mature until about age 25, alcohol and substance use during the teenage years can disrupt judgment, planning, and self-control.
  

3. White Matter: Brain Connectivity

• White matter connects different brain regions, allowing smooth communication.
• Research links adolescent substance use to reduced volume and quality of white matter, impairing coordination and cognitive processing.
  

4. Blood Flow: Oxygen Supply to the Brain

• Healthy brain development depends on proper blood flow.
• Alcohol and drug use restrict blood flow, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and disrupting normal growth and maturation.

As a result of these and other impacts, young people who use substances are especially vulnerable to psychological and behavioral health issues. The ability to retain and recall memories, make logical decisions, maintain a stable emotional baseline, and form healthy relationships are just a few of the areas that can be hampered by drinking and using substances at a young age.

Risks that Come with Youth Substance Use

Along with psychological and developmental issues, there are a number of other consequences and risks brought on by adolescent drinking and substance use:

• Engage in unsafe sexual activity and violent altercations.
• Experience legal issues such as DUIs or arrests.
• Be involved in fatal car accidents. The CDC reports that 24% of male drivers and 17% of female drivers aged 15–20 who were in fatal crashes had been drinking.
• Develop substance use disorders (SUDs) later in life, increasing the risk of addiction, overdose, and diseases like HIV.

Why Education is Key to Preventing Youth Addiction

Drinking and using substances as a youth carries numerous health and safety risks. For young people with a family history of substance use, trauma, or abuse, these risks are dramatically higher. To help young people understand the dangers posed by substances and alcohol and prepare them for the social pressures they may face, it’s important for them to have access to education and support.

Steps to substance use prevention include:

• Education: Teaching teens about the short- and long-term risks of substance use helps them make informed choices.
• Support networks: Families, schools, and peer groups that provide stability and open communication create protective environments.
• Encouraging transparency: When young people feel safe discussing their struggles, they are more likely to seek help before problems escalate.

When young people have a supportive and understanding environment around them, they have a much greater chance of safely navigating the difficulties and pressures of adolescent life. By prioritizing education, early intervention, and strong support systems, we can help young people navigate social pressures and reduce the risk of addiction

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction or co-occurring disorders, call the New England Recovery Center today at 1-877-MyRehab or contact us here.