Addiction in Adolescents: A Review on Neurological Concepts

In spite of all improvements in understanding of biological and neurological factors of addiction, it is still a general health problem which is followed by personal and social sufferings and imposes a huge burden on individual, family, and society. Addiction (behavior) is likely to begin in adolescence more than any other age group. Brain different developmental pathways including cortical and subcortical regions in adolescents are one of the factors which may result in risky behaviors such as addiction (behaviors) in this age group more than other age groups. Therefore, more studies in order to understand biological and neurological factors in adolescents addiction are necessary since they lead to preventive and therapeutic strategies. This article presents a review of biological models of addiction, brain developments in adolescence, and substance use impact on brain in order to integrate understandings of this age group addiction. Review on literature suggests that lack of balance between development pace of forefront cortical regions and subcortical reward regions is one of the factors which increases disposition to addiction. Also substance use in adolescents may in turn lead to brain changes which increase likelihood of addiction and substance abuse in next years.