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Emma Sampson

Krista Schaefer speaks to the audience about the importance of making healthy connections in the brain in the Huss Center on Jan. 22 during X period.

On Jan. 22 during X-period, Krista Schaefer spoke to the upper school community in the Huss auditorium about understanding the effect that addiction can have on the adolescent brain. While first explaining the difference between misuse and addiction, Schaefer said any use can open the gate into permanently changing the way the frontal and temporal lobe develop.

While SPA defines any use as misuse, Schaefer chose to present information in a new way.

“I to use scare tactics, but instead [you should all] take the information given and absorb it to make your own decisions,” Schaefer said.

Social pressures and a need for social acceptance can drive teenagers to participate in misuse and for some, that adds to dependence. Schaefer explained that the emotional part of the brain is still developing, which is why it is so important to make good decisions.

“You are being driven by emotions and the part of your brain that makes good decisions is not ready yet. It’s not a coincidence that the drinking age is 21,” Schaefer said.

Another element that explains why underage misuse and dependence can be damaging is Synaptic Pruning.

“The brain doesn’t know the difference between legal and illegal misuse and can develop a pathway or connection to anything it likes,” Schaefer said.

A connection to cannabis, or the more popular act of vaping, can get rid of normal coping methods and force the brain to be dependent on illegal substances.

“The actual substance does not matter and the fact that it’s illegal doesn’t change the fact that it is addictive. When dependence comes into play, the misuse is no longer in control of the individual since the brain knows no other way but to go back to the dependent drug or substance. If the healthy pathways are cut off in a developing teenager, the right pathways in adulthood can be extremely hard as you have to relearn how to manage discomfort, anxiety and coping mechanisms,” Schaefer said.

To close out and centralize the talk back to SPA, she brought up the popular vaping tendencies and explained that the industry markets to teenagers, not adults, with flavors like bubblegum and watermelon. While vaping is publicized as having no effects on the body, there is not enough research to prove this true.

“It takes time to develop research and find out if something is truly bad,” Schaefer said.

Schaefer stated that she is open to questions and urges students to reach out.

“What you do now matters because you are learning how to manage new social situations and discomfort,” Schaefer said.

Contact information: [email protected].