Marijuana and the Teen Brain

Explaining the impact of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use on brain chemistry, brain function, and behavior. Health Education Content Standard 1.2 N Grades 9-12

Adult Vs. Teen Brain

Most of the activity in the adult brain is in the frontal lobe Thinking, reasoning,

planning

Most of the activity in the teen brain is focused in the center Pleasure reward

center

Teen Brain Under Construction

Mylenation: Thickening of myelin sheath around neural connections increases the efficiency of those connections

Pruning: Removing unneeded connections the brain has formed

Use it or loose it: The connections that are most frequently used become more efficient, the connections that are not get removed

Cannabinoid Receptor Sites in the Brain

Nucleus Accumbens Pleasure reward center,

laughter, addiction and fear

Hippocampus Memory, navigation and

spatial orientation

Cerebellum Coordination, fine

movement and balance

Amygdala Fear, emotions and novelty

Cerebellum

Internal and external coordination is slowed down by marijuana use

Hippocampus

On Marijuana : Brain does not

distinguish between important and unimportant information

Not pulling up old references makes the common seem new

Does not store or connect new information into memory

Amygdala

Sense of novelty heightened during marijuana high

After marijuana use sensitivity to novelty dulled

Not excited by new ideas and everything seems boring

Dopamine

Gets our attention and tells us that something feels good

Marijuana tricks the brain into releasing large amounts of dopamine

Brain becomes tricked into believing that drugs are the only way to release dopamine (feel good)

How’s your memory?

Explain to your elbow partner how marijuana effects the function of the cerebellum, hippocampus, and Amygdala.

Aftermath of THC

Calming followed by irritability

Fascination followed by boredom

Sensory enhancement followed by feeling flat

Loss of short term memory

Lingering lack of clarity

Lack of integrative experience

Sense of awe followed by spiritual depletion

From First Use to Dependence

1. First use is to feel “good”

2. Other users and media reinforce continued use

3. Continued use to feel “normal”

4. Changes in pleasure reward system promote continued use

5. Brain becomes hard wired for use

Concerns with Teen Marijuana Use

Upsets the balance of brain chemistry

Learning and emotional growth impaired

Ultimately it produces opposite results

Developing teen brain easily wired for dependency & addiction

Not developing other interests and coping skills

For More Information

• http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/drugs/mouse.htmlTake a look inside the brain to see how drugs work

• http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/drugs/abuse.htmlShort videos on how various substances impact the brain and behavior

http://teens.drugabuse.gov/The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Teen Site