1. Kevin Leehey M.D. Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry Board Certified 296-4280 leeheymd.com

2. Salpointe Catholic High School Community of Concern What’s Brain Got To Do With It ? http://leeheymd.com/medmemo/currentmm.html#1 http://leeheymd.com/powerpoint.html leeheymd.com

3. Brain Development If a child is not played with, interacted with, nurtured, exposed to stimuli, or is rarely touched he/she will develop a 25% smaller brain. Experiences shape and reshape the structure of the brain.

4. By the time a child is 6, his or her brain is 90 to 95 % of adult size. Between age 6 and 12 neurons grow bushier by each neuron adding dozens of connections based on what is reinforced by learning and experience. This is why such things as learning a second language, riding a bike, swimming, learning to play a piano, or to throw a ball are easier when young and can last a lifetime.

5. Neuron connections peak at 11 in girls and 12 to 13 in boys. Unused connections are further pruned out in the teen years at the same time the white matter protective coating around neurons called Myelin Sheath cells increase. The brain is becoming more efficient but also losing its raw potential for learning and ability to recover from trauma, drugs, alcohol, or injury.

6. Synapses that are used often are kept and reinforced. Those that are not used are lost. How you spend your time and the experiences you have or don ’ t have are critical.

7. The part of the brain that makes teens responsible is still under construction. Brain development proceeds from back to front and bottom to top. The Frontal Lobe, which controls impulses, motivation, and judgement is the last to develop. Teen ’ s inconsistent Melatonin production contributes to irregular sleep patterns.

8. Teens do best with 8 to 10 hours sleep, few get it; and phase shift. REM occurs about every 90 minutes. REMs get longer and deep sleep shorter overnight. REM key for neurotransmitters and memory. Naps lack REM.

9. Although hormones do play an important role and do affect the brain, the main explanation for the natural lability and moodiness of our teen years is brain development, or as some would say, the lack of brain development.

10. The teen brain is more vulnerable to the stimulating, damaging, and addicting effects of nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs. Almost 45% of kids who start drinking alcohol by 13 will become alcoholic, while only 10% of those who wait till 21 will. One in three teens who start smoking as a teen will die of a tobacco related disease. Ninety percent of adult smokers began as a teen.

11. Twenty-five is the best estimate for when the brain is reasonably fully mature.

12. Causes of death ages 15-24 :

13. Accidents -primarily motor vehicle, many are substance impaired. Suicide Homicide These 3 account for 75% of all deaths in our kids. Suicide and homicide are mostly by guns and many are substance impaired.

15. SSRI prescription rates in the United States*

16. Suicide rates in children and adolescents (aged 5 – 19 years) in the United States

17. Suicides Rise Among Youth CDC data show a sharp uptick in self-inflicted deaths among females under 24 years old from 2003 to 2004. Federal health officials said more data are needed to determine if the rise is a trend or anomaly.

18. Actual Causes of Preventable Deaths

19. Opiates #1 New Use

20. Heroin/opiates, MJ, Stimulants Increasing

21. Drug Use in Past Month, Ages 12 to 17 Teens continue 4-year drop in use: Marijuana was the substance of choice (6.7%), followed by nonmedical use of prescription drugs (3.3%), inhalants (1.3%), hallucinogens (0.7%) and cocaine (0.4%).

22. Drug use in past month, ages 50 to 54 Older adults still using: Drug use among adults ages 50 to 54 rose 76% from 2002 to 2006. Rather than indicating new users, the increase likely reflects holdover from drug use established in the 1970s.

23. Tobacco kills more than all drugs and alcohol together. Youth drink to get drunk - binge on as much as possible as fast as possible. 60% HS seniors have had intercourse. 50% HS seniors drink regularly. 25% HS seniors smoke cigarettes. 20% HS seniors use other drugs 50% teens will try other drugs by end of HS

24. Tips for Parents Don’t leave town and leave your teen home alone. Cell phones make “flash” parties possible. Don’t trust sleepovers and campouts. Call other parents. If you’re the host check what’s up. Have your teen wake you up when they come home. Seat belts, air bags, slower speeds, less passengers, home before midnight, and safer cars save lives.

25. More Tips for Parents : Teen’s main source for alcohol and prescription medicines to abuse is your home and their friends’ homes. If you want your kids to come out of their rooms keep the electronics out. Internet and gaming are best monitored out of their bedrooms. 2% of us over age 40 smoke marijuana daily. Teens know homes where parents allow or give alcohol, “weed”, other drugs, or sex to your kids. Read the C of C booklet - it’s very useful !

26. Thank you and good luck… Kevin Leehey M.D. leeheymd.com 296-4280