Dru g s an d t h e
Ad ol es ce n t B r ai n by Alicia Kline, Council on Chemical Abuse
T
he brain remains the most complex and amazing organ in the human body. Responsible for every breath, movement, thought, and action, scientists continue to study the complexities of how the brain develops and functions. Made up of cells called neurons, humans are born with over one hundred billion brain cells that communicate with each other to form connections that allow us to grow cognitively, physically, and mentally. By the age of three, a child’s brain creates over a quadrillion connections and will continue to develop until they reach their mid-twenties. Promoting healthy brain development relies heavily on the way we encourage, protect, and nurture those connections, which begins at the time of conception. Continued on page 20
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