9781422273913

Teenage brains are also more malleable than adult brains; this is referred to as synaptic plasticity. Synapses, which enable brain cells to communicate with one another, are more plentiful in kids and teens than in adults. That’s a good thing, because it means that kids and teenagers are able to pick up new things, and do so faster, than older people. Young brains are, essentially, “wired” to learn new things. Unfortunately, this also means that they are quicker at picking up unhealthy things, such as an addiction. The earlier someone develops an addiction, the harder it can be to overcome that addiction later, in part because of the impact it has had on the person’s synapses. Furthermore, teen brains are more sensitive to nicotine than fully grown brains are—it affects themmore strongly. They also seem to experience fewer withdrawal effects than adults. These factors, combined with peer pressure and weaker impulse control, result in teens becoming addicted to nicotine more easily than adults. According to a study in Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, “adolescents progress faster to nicotine dependence than adults, find nicotine more rewarding, underestimate the risks of smoking, and are more influenced by smoking behavior in [social settings].” Scientists have discovered that exposure to nicotine in the teen years causes changes at the molecular level of the brain. The more frequent and intense the exposure, the greater these changes will be. Over the long term, these exposures can damage memory, attention span, and cognitive processing (how well a person can assess a situation and make decisions). Studies have also suggested that smoking in teens is associated with certain mental health issues later in life, including depression and panic disorders.

Understanding Tobacco and Nicotine

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