A large study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that kids who start using drugs, alcohol or nicotine before age 15 have differences in their brain structure compared to kids who don’t use these substances. Surprisingly, many of these brain differences were already there beforethe kids ever used any drugs. This means that some kids might be more likely to try drugs early because of the way their brains are built.
Dr. Nora Volkow, the head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), says that the brain’s structure along with genetics and environment can affect whether a young person starts using substances or becomes addicted. By learning more about how these things work together. Experts hope to find better ways to prevent substance use and help kids who are at risk.
This research was conducted as part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the biggest project ever done on this topic. It followed nearly 10,000 kids aged 9 to 11 from all over the U.S. At the start, scientists took MRI scans of the children’s brains to look for patterns that might show who could be more likely to start using substances early.
Of the 10,000 kids; about 3,460 had started using drugs or alcohol before they turned 15. Most of them had tried alcohol. Many of those who used nicotine or cannabis had also used alcohol. When researchers looked at their brain scans, they found some key differences especially in the outer part of the brain called the cortex. The cortex helps us think, remember, feel emotions and make choices.
Kids who used substances early often had larger brains overall and bigger parts under the cortex. Some areas were thicker or shaped differently than in kids who didn’t use substances. Some changes were linked to specific substances like alcohol or cannabis.
The most important discovery was that many of these brain differences were present even before the kids used any substances. This means that certain brain traits might make a child more likely to start using drugs not the other way around.
Some of the brain areas involved in early drug use are also connected to risky behaviors like trying new things or acting without thinking. However, scientists still need to learn more about how these brain features affect behavior.
Other things like a child’s genes, environment or even exposure to pollution before birth can also affect brain development and the risk of using substances. For example, some studies show that pollution can harm brain connections and raise the risk of addiction later.
Going forward, researchers will continue studying these kids to see how their brains change as they grow and how substance use might affect them over time.
Dr. Alex Miller, one of the study’s researchers said this work helps us understand the link between brain development and substance use. It could help create better ways to prevent addiction and support young people before problems begin.
By learning who is more at risk, parents, teachers and doctors can step in early to help kids grow up healthy and drug-free.
