“I know I’m supposed to be preparing my teenager for life and all, but it’s hard when they already know everything.” ~Whitney Fleming

“The thing you’ve got to be prepared to do as a parent is not to be liked from time to time.” ~Emma Thompson

“The scariest thing about raising a teenager is remembering all of the stupid things you did as a teenager.” ~Every parent

If you are a parent of a teenager, you can probably relate to one or all of these quotes. Nothing can fully prepare you for parenting during the teenage years, but the more we learn about the teenage brain helps us to understand why this is such a complex phase of life--for everyone involved.  

Q: What is going on in my teenager’s brain?

A. The teenage brain is like a work-in-progress construction site: it’s full of potential, but still under heavy renovation. While it’s growing and evolving, some areas—like decision-making and impulse control—are still being built, leading to moments of brilliance mixed with questionable choices. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for planning, decision-making, and controlling impulses, is one of the last areas of the brain to mature, typically not fully developed until the mid-20s for females and up to age 30 for males. And while the prefrontal cortex is lagging behind, making teens more prone to risky behavior, the emotional center is in overdrive, making everything feel more intense. It’s a time of change, growth, and sometimes chaos as the brain prepares for adulthood.

Q. Why are adolescent brains more vulnerable to substance use?

A. Because the teenage brain is still forming, substances like alcohol, nicotine and marijuana can interfere with normal development processes, which may lead to difficulties later on with decision making, cognitive functions, emotional regulation and even addiction. 

• Decision Making: Substances can disrupt the growth and lessen the strengthening of neural connections for teens in this already lagging region, potentially leading to even poorer decision-making and riskier behaviors. 

• Cognitive Function: Studies show that adolescents who use substances regularly may experience lower academic performance, reduced memory ability, executive functioning impairment and decreased ability to focus. One study even found heavy marijuana use predicts an 8 point drop in IQ.

• Emotional Regulation: Regular substance use during adolescence is linked to an increased risk of developing mental health disorders including anxiety, depression and psychosis. Teenagers may use substances to cope, but in the long run using substances can exacerbate mental health issues and reduce opportunities to develop healthy coping strategies.

• Addiction: Early substance use is a major risk factor for developing a substance use disorder later in life. The brain’s reward system, which is highly active in adolescence, is particularly susceptible to becoming reliant on substances for pleasure and stress relief, potentially leading to addiction. 

Q: How can I help my teenager to understand these risks and make good decisions?

A: Remember, even though it might not seem like it, you are your teen’s #1 influencer. Have proactive open conversations about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Encourage your teenager to ask questions and express their feelings about peer pressure, stress and substance use. Set consistent rules and consequences to help reinforce healthy behavior and discourage experimentation. Model healthy behaviors and promote healthy activities. 

Q: What should a parent do if they suspect their teen is using substances?

A: If you suspect your teen is using substances, try to express your concerns without accusing or blaming. Ask open-ended questions and listen to what they have to say. Teenagers are more likely to open up if they feel supported, not judged. Visit healthykp.org for talking points and quitting program access.

Please email your questions to [email protected]. Your questions will remain confidential and anonymous. Formed in 2018, Healthy KP is a community-based group of volunteers from the tri-town communities working together to prevent and reduce the use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco products among our youth. In December of 2020, Healthy KP was awarded a Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant allowing the coalition to strengthen community collaboration and engagement to prevent and reduce substance use among youth. By implementing evidence-based prevention programs, strengthening partnerships and building connections through community events, Healthy KP has made progress in reducing rates of youth use. For more information, visit www.healthykp.org.