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Addiction Science: From Molecules to Managed Care
- Introduction
- What Is Addiction?
- Why Do People Abuse Drugs?
- Drug Use Changes the Brain
- Prevention/Development
- Drug Prevention, Addiction Treatment and HIV/AIDS
- Addiction is a developmental disease that usually begins in adolescence.
- Research shows that brain development continues throughout adolescence and into early adulthood.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans allow us to map the maturation of the brain.
- Adolescents' brains are "wired" differently than those of adults.
- Given the different physiology of adolescents’ brains, do they react differently to substances of abuse?
- Animal studies show a difference in response to drugs of abuse in early-exposed "adolescents."
- NIDA is supporting research to learn more about how to best prevent drug abuse and treat drug addiction in adolescents.
- Genes, Environment, Comorbidity
- Treatment
- Relapse
- HIV/AIDS
- International Program & Conclusion
Prevention/Development
In This Section
- Drug Prevention, Addiction Treatment and HIV/AIDS
- Addiction is a developmental disease that usually begins in adolescence.
- Research shows that brain development continues throughout adolescence and into early adulthood.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans allow us to map the maturation of the brain.
- Adolescents' brains are "wired" differently than those of adults.
- Given the different physiology of adolescents’ brains, do they react differently to substances of abuse?
- Animal studies show a difference in response to drugs of abuse in early-exposed "adolescents."
- NIDA is supporting research to learn more about how to best prevent drug abuse and treat drug addiction in adolescents.
This page was last updated July 2008.
Featured Publication
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction
As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior.
External link, please review our disclaimer.
External link, please review our disclaimer.
External link, please review our disclaimer.




