Brain Science as a Means of Understanding Delinquency and Substance Abuse in Youth

Drs. Beauchaine and Tapert explore risks and results of delinquency and substance abuse in youth. Dr. Beauchaine discusses the importance of understanding the brain mechanisms associated with impulsivity, which allows us to identify at-risk children early in life. This provides opportunities for prevention of later substance abuse, school drop out, and delinquency. Dr. Tapert addresses the extent to which heavy alcohol and other drug use during the teenage years might affect brain development and cognitive performance into young adulthood. She also describes her research projects using neuropsychological testing and brain imaging to better understand cognition in youth who are heavy users of alcohol and drugs.