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Encyclopedia of Psychopharmacology pp 39–44Cite as

Adolescence and Responses to Drugs

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Synonyms

Adolescent neurodevelopmental vulnerability; Peri-adolescent psychopharmacology

Definition

Adolescence is a major developmental phase in which the body, brain, mind, and behavior of the child progress to those of an adult. Although it has long been known that mental functioning and behavior differ significantly between children and adults, an emerging body of evidence indicates that these changes are driven by changes in brain architecture and function. To the extent that these changes are the most robust in, or exclusive to, adolescence, this phase may also represent a context in which drugs impacting the central nervous system produce especially potent and long-lasting alterations.

Current Concepts and State of Knowledge

Adolescent Neurodevelopment

Adolescence encompasses the growth and alteration of many neural and somatic systems and spheres of function that evolve with differing developmental timelines both within and between individuals (Cicchetti and Cohen 2006). Given...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, IU Neuroscience Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    R. Andrew Chambers

Authors
  1. R. Andrew Chambers
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Andrew Chambers .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Behavioural Pharmacology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK

    Ian P. Stolerman

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA

    Lawrence H. Price

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© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Chambers, R.A. (2015). Adolescence and Responses to Drugs. In: Stolerman, I.P., Price, L.H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Psychopharmacology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36172-2_358

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