Rather than thinking that adolescence ends at 18, groundbreaking brain research has shown that critical brain developmental ...

While it is common for people to try alcohol in adolescence, alcohol use in teens can be detrimental to health and may affect brain development and mental health. While teens usually drink less often ...

Those who grew up when Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) pamphlets were common in the school counselor's office are probably familiar with the “gateway drug” theory, which suggests the use of ...

Adolescent substance use is a significant predictor of future addiction and related disorders. Understanding neural mechanisms underlying substance use initiation and frequency during adolescence is ...

High levels of neighborhood violence increase the risk of Latino and African American teens in Denver starting to use alcohol ...

Adolescents often sleep less than recommended and have substantially different sleep patterns on weekdays and weekends. Their ...

The saying, “Don’t sit in front of the TV all day. It will rot your brain,” might not be the overdramatic statement as people once ...

During adolescence, the teen brain goes through dramatic changes which scientists are just beginning to better understand. For parents, teachers, and anyone who cares for a teenager—it is often ...

UC Santa Cruz research innovations and academic programs advance brain and mental health.