Report Spotlights How Nicotine Affects Adolescent Brains

Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that teenagers who smoke are more likely to succumb to marijuana and alcohol. They conducted surveys and discovered that adolescent smokers are 13 times more likely to smoke marijuana and five times more likely to drink, compared to those who don't smoke.

59 percent of smokers of ages 12 to 17 are more likely to drink alcohol than nonsmokers. 31 percent of 12 year old kids who smoke regularly are more than three times more likely to become binge drinkers compared to those who don't smoke.

12 year old smokers are not only risking coming into contact with marijuana and alcohol, but they are also seven times more likely to use other drugs like heroin and cocaine.

The study also found that teen smokers run the risk of suffering from depression and anxiety disorders.

The reason why adolescent smokers are vulnerable towards drugs and alcohol is because of nicotine. The nicotine found in cigarettes causes structural and chemical changes in the brain that make alcohol and drug addiction and mental instability more attainable.

When brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin are affected and brain receptors are disturbed, a desire for addictive drugs increases.

Summarized by: Stephanie Sandoval

Source: Reuters. 2007. Teen smokers 5 times more likely to drink-New report spotlights how nicotine affects adolescent brains. http://msnbc.msn.com (accessed October 27, 2007).