Unit 1 Psychology
Area of Study 3
Student Directed Research Investigation
2021
Student: Esh Stafford
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Research Question
How can substances including drugs and alcohol affect the psychological state of a teenager?
Explain why this is an important question to investigate. Who may benefit from knowing more about this
topic?
Because many teenagers in this generation face issues with substance abuse which can lead to further
psychological issues such as schizophrenia from smoking marijuana. The short and long terms effects differ
depending on the quantity of how much is being ingested which is why this investigation will be important to
help research further into how substances affect the brain and hopefully be able to resolve some peoples
habits.
Audience:
The audience here will be those who are connected to or in contact with someone who abuses substances as
this report will help them with understanding how it affects the brain and what the short- and long-term
effects are.
Hypothesis:
Based on your understanding of the key terms/theory formulate a hypothesis predicting what you think you
might find as an answer to your question.
It is predicted that when a teenager ingests substances like alcohol and drugs, their brain will be affected in
both the short term and the long term. The only way to prove this is to observe a teenager’s brain as they go
their teenage years and see just how alcohol and other substances will devolve the brain.
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Source 1:
Bibliography
Robbins, T. (2011, March 17th). what do drugs do to the brain? horizons magazine, 1-2.
Summary:
Trevor Robbins discusses how drugs affect the neural pathways and can rewire our brains reward effect many
times over. Drugs and alcohol affect three primary areas of the brain: the brain stem, the limbic system, and
the cerebral cortex. When substances enter the brain, they interfere with its normal processing and can
eventually lead to dramatic changes in the neurons and brain circuits. Changes that can still be present even
after an individual has stopped taking drugs.
Source 2:
Bibliography:
Kooreman, H. E. (2017, July). The Impact of substance abuse on the developing brain. school of public health, 1-12.
Summary:
Discussing further as to why and how substances such as marijuana and alcohol can affect the brains
development in the crucial years of growing from between 13-21. Most drugs of abuse target the reward
system in the brain. There are literally dozens of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters that modulate the
activity of brain cells, and drugs are capable of mimicking or stimulating these pathways. In some individuals,
the feeling of euphoria this brings leads to the compulsive drug seeking that characterizes addiction. Impulsivity
also characterises individuals with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and helps to explain why drugs such
as Ritalin, which increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, can work quite well in this
disorder to produce cognitive enhancement. Cognitive enhancers such as Ritalin, modafinil and cholinergicboosting drugs such as donepezil have also aroused considerable interest in their potential for treatment of
cognitive disorders ranging from attention deficit disorder (Ritalin) to Alzheimer’s disease (donepezil).
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Analysis
Substance abuse during adolescence has been tied to many negative, long-term consequences. During adolescence, the
brain changes rather dramatically. Behaviorally, the maturation process of the adolescent brain is reflected in the greater
propensity of adolescents to take part in risky activities such as unprotected sexual activity, reckless driving, and
substance use. Most peoples’ first exposure to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs typically occurs at some point during
adolescence. Like adolescents nationally, youths most commonly experiment with alcohol, tobacco (primarily in the
form of cigarettes and e-cigarettes), and marijuana, with use of these substances increasing from junior high through high
school.
Alcohol:
The impact of alcohol on the adult brain is well known. Adults who engage in chronic and heavy alcohol use show
distinct changes in brain structure, and these changes can result in conditions such as alcohol-induced amnestic disorder,
a form of dementia.
Nicotine:
Nicotine affects the brain by binding to receptor sites along cells in various areas of the brain called nicotinic receptors.
A large percentage of nicotinic receptors are in the limbic system. When stimulated by naturally occurring
neurotransmitters, these receptors control the release of dopamine and serotonin. In the presence of nicotine, nicotinic
receptors send messages for the brain to overproduce dopamine and reduce serotonin production while also causing
certain limbic structures to produce more nicotinic receptors.
Marijuana:
Within the brain, there exists a neural receptor system known as the endocannabinoid system. A significant portion of
the endocannabinoid system is located within the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex. By interacting with various
neurotransmitters, endocannabinoid receptors help control the process of synaptic pruning and myelination, processes
which are particularly active in adolescence. When marijuana is inhaled, its primary psychoactive ingredient delta-9tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) binds to endocannabinoid receptors, interfering with their normal functioning and
potentially preventing proper maturation of gray and white matter in several developing brain regions.
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Conclusion and Generalizations
What have you found about your research question?
Through numerous websites, I have concluded that any substance which can affect the brains “reward” system
can alter the brain development and efficiency in the short and long term. Gateway drugs such as marijuana
and tobacco are a prime example of what can happen if you take a bad habit and make it something that you
need to rely on.
Discuss the implications of your findings. How can this information be used to benefit society?
Teens are becoming more and more prone to encountering such substances where the information on what
the short- and long-term effects are camouflaged from the fact that it connects to the brains dopamine system.
Can the findings be generalized to the population of interest? Explain.
This information can be very useful to those who are in contact or currently fighting the substance abuse that
a lot of people are struggling with. The knowledge that can be absorbed from this report could be used to
help those who are struggling to cope with addiction or to help those who would like to help someone facing
the addiction struggle.
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