A Window Into the Teen Brain - What Questions Do Kids Ask?

I came across a really interesting video today - Dr. Nora Volkow, head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse talking with kids at Harlem High School and answering their questions about the science of drugs and how they affect the adolescent body. One of them actually said after wards "I think it's the best method ever in regard to drug abuse awareness."

Here are some of the questions that they asked:

What is the role of environment versus genetics in addiction to drugs?

Is a quick learner more likely to be addicted to drugs?

How serious an issue is Internet addiction becoming and what do psychologists suggest you do about it?

Does the way you consume marijuana affect your trip?

For more information go watch the video - it's a bit dark and grainy but Dr. Volkow is really good.

http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drnida/drug_abuse_teens_video.php

Why Binging Can Cause Brain Damage

A recent study led by neuroscientist Susan Tapert of the University of California, San Diego compared the brain scans of teens who drink heavily with the scans of teens who don't.

Tapert's team found damaged nerve tissue in the brains of the teens who drank. The researchers believe this damage affects attention span in boys, and girls' ability to comprehend and interpret visual information.

The more teens drank the worse it got. Check out the NPR story and read the comment section. It's got a lot of good information.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122765890&ps=cprs