Sensitive periods of substance abuse: Early risk for the transition to dependence
Early adolescent substance use dramatically increases the risk of lifelong substance use disorder (SUD). An adolescent sensitive period evolved to allow the development of risk-taking traits that aid in survival; today these may manifest as a vulnerability to drugs of abuse. Early substance use inte...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2017-06-01
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| Series: | Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878929316301931 |
| _version_ | 1818511476959215616 |
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| author | Chloe J. Jordan Susan L. Andersen |
| author_facet | Chloe J. Jordan Susan L. Andersen |
| author_sort | Chloe J. Jordan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Early adolescent substance use dramatically increases the risk of lifelong substance use disorder (SUD). An adolescent sensitive period evolved to allow the development of risk-taking traits that aid in survival; today these may manifest as a vulnerability to drugs of abuse. Early substance use interferes with ongoing neurodevelopment to induce neurobiological changes that further augment SUD risk. Although many individuals use drugs recreationally, only a small percentage transition to SUD. Current theories on the etiology of addiction can lend insights into the risk factors that increase vulnerability from early recreational use to addiction. Building on the work of others, we suggest individual risk for SUD emerges from an immature PFC combined with hyper-reactivity of reward salience, habit, and stress systems. Early identification of risk factors is critical to reducing the occurrence of SUD. We suggest preventative interventions for SUD that can be either tailored to individual risk profiles and/or implemented broadly, prior to the sensitive adolescent period, to maximize resilience to developing substance dependence. Recommendations for future research include a focus on the juvenile and adolescent periods as well as on sex differences to better understand early risk and identify the most efficacious preventions for SUD. Keywords: Abuse, Adolescence, Addiction, Substance dependence, Sensitive periods, Vulnerability |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T23:33:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-923aa41c57f349728c5d958a40711ae7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1878-9293 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T23:33:47Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-923aa41c57f349728c5d958a40711ae72022-12-22T01:29:16ZengElsevierDevelopmental Cognitive Neuroscience1878-92932017-06-01252944Sensitive periods of substance abuse: Early risk for the transition to dependenceChloe J. Jordan0Susan L. Andersen1Corresponding author at: Mailstop 333, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St, Belmont, MA 02478, United States.; Department of Psychiatry, Mclean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA 02478, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, Mclean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA 02478, United StatesEarly adolescent substance use dramatically increases the risk of lifelong substance use disorder (SUD). An adolescent sensitive period evolved to allow the development of risk-taking traits that aid in survival; today these may manifest as a vulnerability to drugs of abuse. Early substance use interferes with ongoing neurodevelopment to induce neurobiological changes that further augment SUD risk. Although many individuals use drugs recreationally, only a small percentage transition to SUD. Current theories on the etiology of addiction can lend insights into the risk factors that increase vulnerability from early recreational use to addiction. Building on the work of others, we suggest individual risk for SUD emerges from an immature PFC combined with hyper-reactivity of reward salience, habit, and stress systems. Early identification of risk factors is critical to reducing the occurrence of SUD. We suggest preventative interventions for SUD that can be either tailored to individual risk profiles and/or implemented broadly, prior to the sensitive adolescent period, to maximize resilience to developing substance dependence. Recommendations for future research include a focus on the juvenile and adolescent periods as well as on sex differences to better understand early risk and identify the most efficacious preventions for SUD. Keywords: Abuse, Adolescence, Addiction, Substance dependence, Sensitive periods, Vulnerabilityhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878929316301931 |
| spellingShingle | Chloe J. Jordan Susan L. Andersen Sensitive periods of substance abuse: Early risk for the transition to dependence Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience |
| title | Sensitive periods of substance abuse: Early risk for the transition to dependence |
| title_full | Sensitive periods of substance abuse: Early risk for the transition to dependence |
| title_fullStr | Sensitive periods of substance abuse: Early risk for the transition to dependence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sensitive periods of substance abuse: Early risk for the transition to dependence |
| title_short | Sensitive periods of substance abuse: Early risk for the transition to dependence |
| title_sort | sensitive periods of substance abuse early risk for the transition to dependence |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878929316301931 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chloejjordan sensitiveperiodsofsubstanceabuseearlyriskforthetransitiontodependence AT susanlandersen sensitiveperiodsofsubstanceabuseearlyriskforthetransitiontodependence |