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Adolescent Brain

Brief Description

Illustration of word cloud on running teen stressing developmentatl trajectories

Research has shown that brain development continues into the twenties—a time that encompasses many important developmental and social changes in a young person’s life. Yet there remain important questions about the factors that influence brain development and their impact on physical, cognitive, emotional, and academic trajectories.

The Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study is the largest long-term study of brain and cognitive development in children across the United States. Findings from the ABCD Study will greatly increase our understanding of environmental, social, and genetic factors that affect brain and cognitive development and that can enhance or disrupt a young person’s life trajectory.  Read more about the ABCD study.

Related Publications

Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood

Revised March 2016. This guide, intended for parents, practitioners, and policymakers, begins with a list of 7 principles addressing the specific ways in which early interventions can have positive effects on development; these principles reflect findings on the influence of intervening early with vulnerable populations, on the course of child development, and on common elements of early childhood programs.

Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood A Research-Based Guide (In Brief) cover

Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood A Research-Based Guide (In Brief)

Published September 2016. This brief guide highlights seven evidence-based principles of prevention for use in the early years of a child’s life (prenatal through age 8), developed from research funded in full or in part by NIDA. This guide also lists evidence-based prevention and intervention programs that work with different populations and age groups.

View all related publications

Other Resources

Past information on many drugs of abuse is available on our Archives site.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies in human volunteers conducted to answer specific health questions. Learn about the NIH-sponsored clinical trials available to you.

Other Clinical Trials information sources:

This page was last updated December 2015