Substance Abuse News

New research has found that adolescent binge drinking can repress neurons in the brain so they operate less normally because the genes required for their neurotransmitter function have been turned off. The adolescent brain is uniquely plastic, which supports learning and adaptation, but also creates a window of heightened vulnerability to harms. During this period, alcohol exposure can alter the developmental trajectory of both neural circuits and neuroimmune signaling, creating a persistent disruption of normal brain maturation. Read more...