Effects Of Alcohol On The Developing & Teenage Brain
Learn more about the risks of underage drinking
Alcohol And The
Developing Brain
The human brain doesn’t fully mature until about age 25 — therefore, alcohol impacts the adolescent brain differently than it does the adult brain.


Did You Know?
Chances of developing a substance use disorder:
41%
Kids who begin drinking before age 15
10%
Someone who waits until age 21

Drinking alcohol can
cause a decrease in brain activity

These brain scans show functional activity levels in the brain of a healthy non-drinker (left), and a sober 21-year-old with a four-year history of heavy alcohol use (right). The “holes” indicate areas of reduced brain activity.
© Dr. Daniel Amen; www.amenclinic.com
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