Clayton Valley HS October 25, 2016 Drugs and the Adolescent Brain

What this talk is about Who I am rjcantor@aol.com Power of the Subconscious Adolescent brain different Power of dopamine Weed – Potency Hippocampus Alcohol - Anesthetic, teens different Uppers, Downers, All Arounders Red Flags – Downers, THC edibles Parents message – Caring and wait

The Power of the Unconscious Heart Emotions Thought Slides 7 thru 9 are designed to focus attention on the influence of the subconscious in the interaction with children

Adolescent Brain Adult Brain

Adolescent Brain 5

Adult Brain 6

Pruning & Mylenation “USE IT OR LOSE IT”– Reading, sports, music, video games, hanging out—whatever a child/teen is doing—these are the neural synapses that will be retained and those not worked get pruned away Those neural synapses that are consistently used get hardwired in through mylenation

Drive, motivation, the what’s important filter

SYNAPTIC SPACE If input has interest, dopamine is fired off. High Interest Input Dopamine This is the mind - body connection.

SYNAPTIC SPACE A psychoactive drug can trick the brain into firing off dopamine. THC, Alcohol, Etc. This makes the drug take on importance.

Developmental tasks Boredom/ Developing Interests Good times Stress Social Skills Answer the question “Who am I and what is important to me”

Get a Life! Where’s your juice? What gets your interest? Where’s your energy? Where do you feel your spirit? Mechanics, the Arts, People, Science What moves you?

Dopamine vs. Serotonin Dopamine produces a feeling of pleasure Serotonin produces a feeling of well being Difference between pleasure and happiness (short lived vs big picture) Developing skills, interest, relationships, meaning (“getting a life”) Resiliency

Increased THC Potency Hippies ‘60’s 1 - 3% Cannabis Sativa Vietnam 5 - 10% Cannabis Indica Growing females 10 - 15% Sensimilla Horticulture of Northern California Indoor growing today 15 – 20% Wax and Dabs 50% + Vaping and E-Cigs

The Brain and Cannabinoid Sites Nucleus Accumbens Hippocampus Cerebellum Or how we trick the brain

Hippocampus, say what? Retrieves relevant information Stores new info it deems relevant

Cerebellum Controls internal and external coordination

Alcohol The anesthetic and disinhibitor

Are adolescents more susceptible to alcohol than adults? Most certainly YES Reduced sensitivity to intoxication Increased sensitivity to social disinhibitions Greater adverse effects to cognitive functioning

Uppers, Downers and All Arounders Uppers – Methamphetamine, Adderall. Downers – Alcohol, Xanax, Painkillers Hallucinogenics – Mushrooms, Marijuana Red Flags – Mixing two downers (cross-fading), Edibles

Parent Position Be open to learning What you say and what position you hold influences your child’s thinking and behavior Seek clarity Assess your child’s propensities toward drugs and alcohol Teen proof your home I care, I see, I feel, and then listen

Message for parent to teen Wait, Because…

Reasons for a delaying message Safety Prefrontal cortex less involved Pruning and myelination Altering the pleasure center Short circuiting developmental tasks The research

Percentage of U.S. Adults Aged 18 and Older Dependent on Alcohol, By Age of Drinking Onset 24

Be Like Glinda

Ralph Cantor (510) 653-9410 rjcantor@aol.com Contact Information Ralph Cantor (510) 653-9410 rjcantor@aol.com