1. BRAIN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES FOR ADOLESCENTS IN JUVENILE DRUG COURT Joe Lunievicz, BA RYT, Director TI at NDRI www.ndri.org Developmental Issues 1

2. 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

3. Adolescent Brain Development Developmental Issues 3  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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12. Young Adulthood Developmental Issues 12  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

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

14. Later Adulthood Developmental Issues 14  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

15. Source: Tapert & Schweinsburg, 2005 Developmental Issues 15

16. Developmental Issues 16

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24. Individual & cultural Variation Developmental Issues 24  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

25. Implications of Arrested Development Developmental Issues 25  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

26. Drugs and the Brain Developmental Issues 26  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.

27. Alcohol Developmental Issues 27  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.

28. Marijuana and THC Developmental Issues 28  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

29. Positives Influences Developmental Issues 29  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

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

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