Hello, my name is Diane Peebles and I work for Amador County's Behavioral Health Services, Substance Abuse Division. It gives me great pleasure to share information with the youth, parents and our community about alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, abuse and addiction. I hope the topics will provide information worth sharing with and create discussions with families and friends.

The brain of the adolescent is unique and differs from that of younger individuals and adults in numerous areas of the brain, including those that are critical with respect to alcohol and other drugs. Particular sets of brain circuits are involved in the development of addiction and these are the same ones that are rapidly undergoing change during adolescence.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging has shown that the teen brain is a work in progress. Until recently, most scientists believed that the major "wiring" of the brain was completed as early as age 3 and that the brain was fully mature by the age of 10 or 12. New findings show that the parts of the brain responsible for functions such as self control, judgment, emotions and organization undergo the greatest changes between puberty and adulthood. Both organizational and functional changes occur in the frontal lobe during adolescence.

The brain has a heightened plasticity during adolescence, which is a double edged sword. It provides a unique opportunity to guide brain development in healthy ways, but it also appears to increase the vulnerability to disruptive effects of both "acute and chronic" alcohol and other drug use. Please remember that adolescents use alcohol and other drugs differently than adults.

Adolescents react differently to the initial effect of alcohol. Research on 15- and 16-year-olds showed the process of acquiring knowledge is impaired in teen alcohol abusers, compared to their non-abusing peers, even weeks after they stop drinking. This suggests that the abuse of alcohol by teens may have long-term negative effects on the makeup of their brains. This research may also provide an explanation for why adolescents often fail to heed adults' warnings about risks. Simply put, they may not be able to understand and accept guidance that seems logical and decisive to adults.

Key factors:

- The adolescent brain is a brain in transition.

- The sets of brain circuits rapidly undergoing change during adolescence are the same ones involved in the development of addictions.

- The majority of serious health problems involving the control of behavior and emotions occur during adolescence.

- Adolescents react differently than adults to the initial effect of alcohol.

For more information, visit http://captus.samhsa.gov or call (888) 734-7476.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

'California Healthy Kids Survey' results

In 2005, Amador County Unified School District participated in the "California Healthy Kids Survey." Fifth, seventh, ninth and 11th grade students were surveyed. These are the results on how Amador County students reported drinking alcohol:

Binge drinking (five or more drinks) in one sitting: seventh grade, 9 percent; ninth grade, 17 percent; 11th grade, 29 percent.

Reported alcohol use during lifetime: fifth grade, 37 percent; seventh grade, 29 percent; ninth grade, 54 percent; 11th grade, 72 percent.

Reported alcohol use during past 30 days: seventh grade, 1 percent; ninth grade, 33 percent; 11th grade, 45 percent.

For more information on the "California Healthy Kids Survey," click on "Reports" at http://www.wested.org/pub/docs/chks_home.html.

Keep in mind that kids are at school taking this survey without needing to identify themselves and they have the opportunity to tell us what is going on in their lives. This survey is taken every other year, but these students attend school every year. Effects of alcohol on their brain or the brain of their friend's, is of great concern. How can we help the healthy growth and development of our youth?

If you would like to be involved with the prevention activities in our community or would like certain areas addressed for future articles, contact Diane Peebles at 223-6556, ext. 648.