People naturally want to keep doing things that deliver a reward. For example, when a hungry person eats, the brain’s reward system reacts positively with a flood of dopamine, the pleasure hormone. In the same way, a game of Candy Crush on a smartphone helps people relax after a long day. However, the brain’s reward system is easily hijacked, and substances like drugs and alcohol can take it over. This can lead to intense cravings and difficulty controlling consumption when it comes to the item or behavior that a person thinks of as a reward.
Each year, millions of Americans face the challenges of substance use disorder, a condition that impacts not only their well-being but also the fabric of their communities. According to the US government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), binge drinking and drug misuse remain two of the most common issues affecting young people. Amid pressures from school, social circles, and life transitions, this age group is especially vulnerable to risky behaviors that can spiral into addiction.Â
By understanding how addiction changes the way the brain works, we can better support education, prevention, and treatment efforts to create healthier futures for those at risk during National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week.
How do alcohol and drugs mess with the brain?
Alcohol and drugs interfere with normal chemical processes. When alcohol or other drugs are consumed, they affect the body, bloodstream, and brain, disrupting how the brain normally works. This can change a person’s behavior, emotions, and mood. Some drugs mimic the brain’s natural chemicals, while others overstimulate the brain’s reward system.
Neurotransmitters play a key role in everyday activities like controlling appetite, motivation, stress, memory, and learning. When alcohol or drugs affect them, they can either become overactive or stop working properly, which prevents them from doing their normal jobs. When something feels good, the brain releases a chemical called dopamine, which makes the person feel happy and reminds them to do it again. Over time, this process helps create habits. 
Will most drug and alcohol users become dependent?
Most people who use alcohol or other drugs do not become dependent. However, some individuals are more at risk due to their genetics, environment, or the age when they first started using. At the same time, there are certain factors that can help lower the chances of developing dependence.
Protective factors include taking part in sports or recreational activities, having good social connections and a sense of belonging, learning healthy ways to cope with challenges, and building strong, supportive relationships with family and friends.
Can drugs and alcohol affect teenage brain development?
During the teenage years, the brain goes through significant changes as it grows, develops, and reorganizes. By the mid-20s, this growth slows. This period of brain development makes teens more sensitive to substances that affect the brain, like alcohol and illegal drugs.
Drinking alcohol can lead to long-term problems like trouble learning, memory loss, and even brain damage. It also plays a role in the top three causes of teen deaths: accidents, murder, and suicide. Teens who start drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop a drinking problem later in life compared to those who wait until 21. Since alcohol can make people take more risks, it often causes dangerous situations that wouldn’t happen if they were sober.
Alcohol works as a depressant, slowing down how the brain sends messages to the heart and muscles. As more alcohol enters the bloodstream, it changes how a person moves, sees, thinks, and even feels. Once alcohol enters the bloodstream, the liver works hard to break it down. If a person drinks more than their liver can handle, it can cause damage to the brain and liver, alcohol poisoning, or even death.
While the short-term dangers of drug use are clear, the risks for teens go even further. Since their brains are still developing, teens are more vulnerable to the long-term effects of drug use. Teenagers are more at risk when it comes to drugs for a few reasons. The frontal lobe, a part of the brain that helps with decision-making and self-control, doesn’t fully develop until later in life. Because of this, it’s harder for teens to manage their actions, which can make them more likely to struggle with addiction.
Teenagers’ brains are still developing, which means their neural pathways aren’t fully formed yet. Because of this, rewards and stimuli feel stronger to them compared to adults. As a result, emotions and the effects of drugs tend to hit harder for teenagers, making them more likely to develop addictions.
What is the difference between recreational drug use and a substance abuse disorder?
Substance use disorder happens when someone feels a strong urge to take a drug, can’t control how much they use, and experiences negative feelings when they stop. Drug addiction includes both impulsive and compulsive behaviors. Impulsive behavior happens when someone feels excitement or tension before acting, while compulsive behavior is driven by anxiety and relief after the act. Over time, drug use can shift from being something people do for pleasure to something they feel they need to avoid feeling bad.
How do the more common illegal drugs impact the teenage brain?
Different drugs may affect the brain’s reward system in similar ways, but the changes and effects they cause can vary. Below is a basic explanation of how some common drugs impact teenagers.
Nicotine
Nicotine affects teenagers differently than adults, making it more enjoyable for them. When nicotine enters the brain, it attaches to special receptors that release dopamine. Over time, the brain creates more of these receptors, which can lead to cravings and addiction. Teenagers are especially at risk because their brains are still developing, making them more likely to get addicted to nicotine.
Cannabis
Teens’ brains respond to cannabis differently than adults’ brains. Adults often feel more anxious and less active after using cannabis, but teenagers don’t experience these effects as strongly, which can lead them to use it more often. Using cannabis at a young age can impact memory, thinking, and IQ. It has also been connected to a higher chance of being more sensitive to other drugs, such as cocaine, later in life.
Alcohol
Teenagers process alcohol faster than adults, so it leaves their bodies more quickly. However, drinking during the teen years can harm the hippocampus, the part of the brain that helps with memory. Teens are also more affected by the “feel-good” effects of alcohol, which makes them more likely to binge drink or develop an addiction.
Cocaine
Cocaine triggers a rush of chemicals in the brain, like dopamine, causing a brief high that is quickly followed by a crash. Teens don’t feel cocaine’s effects as strongly as adults, but their brains are more sensitive to addiction because their brain’s reward systems are still developing. Cocaine use also makes impulsive decisions even worse, which can lead to dangerous actions and long-term harm to the brain.
Opioids
Opioids are very risky because they can easily lead to addiction and overdose. Teens are more sensitive to opioids, which means they can become addicted faster than adults. Since their brain’s reward system is still developing, this sensitivity makes them more likely to seek out the drug repeatedly. This raises their chances of becoming addicted or overdosing.
Can the brain heal itself after alcohol and other drug use?
The human brain has an amazing ability to heal and adapt, even after long-term alcohol or drug use. It can grow new brain cells and form new connections throughout a person’s life. This process, called neuroplasticity, allows the brain to change, rebuild, and reorganize itself after addiction. However, recovery takes time.
The time it takes to recover often depends on the type of substance used and the extent of the damage caused. Some damage from alcohol or drug use cannot be reversed.
The brain can begin to heal when a person stops using a drug or greatly reduces how much they use. There are many treatment options available to help people reduce or quit their use if that’s what they want to do.
How long does it take to detox from drugs and alcohol?
The process of detoxing or withdrawing from alcohol or drugs can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. How long it takes depends on several factors, such as the type of drug, how much and how often it was used, how long the person has been using, their overall health, and the method of withdrawal they are following. In some cases, medications can be used to make the detox and withdrawal process easier.
What can I do to help my brain heal after drug or alcohol addiction?
People can help their brains and bodies heal and boost brain health and neuroplasticity by:
- Getting regular exercise, which helps boost the size of the hippocampus, a part of the brain that can be affected by alcohol and other drug use. It also benefits both mental and physical health.
- Practicing mindfulness, like meditation, can help repair brain pathways that may have been harmed by alcohol or drug use.
- Maintaining a healthy diet with the right nutrients can help reduce the deficiency of vitamins and minerals that often occurs with alcohol or drug use.
- Getting regular sleep helps the brain clear out toxins. Building healthy sleep habits can support the brain’s recovery and overall health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is alcohol a drug or not?
Alcohol is one of the most commonly used drugs. It plays a big part in many cultures and societies around the world and has a major effect on public health.
Can I quit drugs on my own?
Quitting drugs or alcohol on your own can be risky. If you’ve been using them heavily for a long time or have become dependent, stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, strong cravings, and mental health challenges. It is best to seek medical advice and guidance when quitting drugs or alcohol.
Can an addict ever achieve sobriety?
It is possible. Some people can quit substances right away. However, more serious cases might need months or even years of treatment and follow-up. It takes real effort, and most of the time, the person has to avoid the substance completely afterward.
What is considered an alcohol use disorder?
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition where a person struggles to control or stop drinking alcohol, even when it causes problems in their life, such as health issues or trouble at work or with friends.
Is it OK to drink a little at 16?
Teenagers are more likely to be harmed by alcohol than adults. Since the brain keeps growing until the mid-20s, drinking as a teen can affect brain development and increase the chances of having alcohol problems later in life.
