Brain Research and Developmental Issues for adolescents in juvenile drug court

1. Developmental Issues Brain Research and Developmental Issues for adolescents in juvenile drug court Joe Lunievicz, BA RYT, Director TI at NDRI www.ndri.org

2. “No matter how articulate the practitioner may be, the words may not be comprehended if the speaker lacks understanding of the effects of drug use on adolescent cognitive development and the individual’s ability to comprehend the court proceedings in which he/she is involved, to comply with court orders and conditions of release, and most important, to be motivated to change his/her behavior over the long term.” Cooper, Adolescent Drug Users, 2008 Developmental Issues

3. Adolescent Brain Development • What the Research tells us based on MRI research begun in the 1990s • Adolescent Brains are under construction • Development continues through the mid twenties. • A. Rae Simpson, The MIT Young Adult Development Project • Mentor Foundation, University of Minnesota Developmental Issues

4. What We’ll Cover: • Developmental changes • Brain changes • Influences on Development Developmental Issues

5. “Adolescence is the period of physical and psychological development from the onset of puberty to maturity.” American Heritage Dictionary Developmental Issues

6. Developmental Stages of Adolescence • Early (12-14) • Middle (15-17) • Late (18-25) Developmental Issues

7. Major Developmental Shifts • Adolescence • (Early and Middle teens) • Young Adulthood • (Late teens and early twenties) • Later Adulthood • (Mid-twenties and after) Developmental Issues

8. Key Factor • Adolescence is a period of profound brain maturation. • Old belief that development was completed by adolescence… • Development finishes around 25-6. Developmental Issues

9. Adolescence • Abstract Thinking • Increased intensity of emotion • Increased sensation-seeking • Sensitivity to alcohol & other drugs • Changes in sleep cycle Developmental Issues

10. Limitations • Right & wrong thinking • Instrumental focus • Emotional regulation Developmental Issues

11. 16-17 years old • More likely than adults to be • Impulsive • Aggressive • Emotionally volatile • Likely to take risks • Reactive to stress • Vulnerable to peer pressure Developmental Issues

12. Young Adulthood • Greater complexity of thinking • Critical thinking • More integration of cognitive & emotional • Relationships based on shared values, mutuality • Respect for diversity • Modified risk taking • Decision based on future consequences & impact on others Developmental Issues

13. Limitations • Abstract principles • Following vs. shaping rules and roles • External vs. internal basis for decisions Developmental Issues

14. Later Adulthood • Greater complexity of thinking • Shaping vs. following rules and roles • Solving ill-structured problems • Big picture thinking • Self-correction, self-evaluation • Internalized commitment of relationships and work • Evaluation of external expectations Developmental Issues

15. Source: Tapert & Schweinsburg, 2005 Developmental Issues

16. Developmental Issues

17. Brain Changes • Adolescence • Young Adulthood • Later Adulthood Developmental Issues

18. Brain changes in Adolescents • Prefontal Cortex • Myelination: adding white matter • Synaptic Pruning: decreasing number of connections • Connections among regions Developmental Issues

19. Executive Suite • Calibration of risk & reward • Problem-solving • Prioritizing • Thinking ahead • Self-evaluation • Long-term planning • Regulation of emotions Developmental Issues

20. Caveats • Not automatic • Roles for both nature and nurture • Periods of equilibrium • Intermediate steps • Uneven across areas Developmental Issues

21. Developmental Range • Optimal spurts • Functional gradual Developmental Issues

22. Nature vs. Nurture • Developmental stage and vulnerability to environmental influences Developmental Issues

23. Influences on Level of Functioning • Emotional arousal: cold cognition vs. hot cognition • Alert vs. Sleepy • Familiarity of context • Familiarity of content • Practice • Support Developmental Issues

24. Individual & cultural Variation • Age, education, gender • Abuse, neglect, trauma • Race, ethnicity, sexual identity • Temperament • Family background, parenting style • Illness • Learning disabilities • Substance abuse • Ares of concentrated interest • Cultural background Developmental Issues

25. Implications of Arrested Development • Preference for physical activity over activities that require complex thinking. • Less than optimal planning and judgment • More risky, impulsive behaviours • Minimal consideration of negative consequences Developmental Issues

26. Drugs and the Brain • Impact on the brain’s reward circuit (limbic system) • Pleasure = release dopamine • Drugs hijack the system and release more over a longer period of time. Developmental Issues

27. Alcohol • Adolescents with a history of alcohol use disorder may show deficits in short-term memory • 10% less memory on short term verbal and non-verbal tasks • Hippocampus encodes new information into memory • Adolescents with history of alcohol abuse have smaller hippocampus volume • Most vulnerable parts of the brain associated with memory, attention, sleep, coordination and judgment. Developmental Issues

28. Marijuana and THC • Hippocampus, cerebellum, basal ganglia, cerebralcortex • Interferes with learning and memory • Impacts on ability to study, learn new things, recalling recent events (short term memory) • Long term impact • inability to do complex tasks • Increased risk of psychosis • Increased of depression and anxiety Developmental Issues

29. Positives Influences • Challenging Old thinking • Faculty and other adult interactions • Diversity of peers • Interdisciiplinary and intebratiove apporaches • Out of classroom experience • Instruction in cognitive skills, eg critical thinking Developmental Issues

30. Positive Influences • Providing support for growth • Matching level of challenge with ability • Scaffolding, balance of structure and flexibility • Safety net, monitoring • Tincture of time Developmental Issues

31. Three Tiers of Influence • Support optimal functioning • Foster growth toward next steps • Set the stage for ongoing development Developmental Issues