When you hear experts explain how substances affect the teenage brain differently than adult brains, it can transform how you understand your child’s behavior. The teenage brain is under major construction until the mid-twenties, particularly in areas controlling judgment and impulse control. When substances repeatedly flood the developing brain with dopamine, it can essentially “teach” the brain that substances are more important than natural rewards. Understanding this biology can help you see your child’s struggles through a medical lens rather than as a moral failing, which may then allow you to approach them with compassion rather than anger or frustration.
