The effects of drug exposure in adolescence on behavior and cognitive functions during Adulthood

Addiction is a phenomenon that affects various aspects of individual, family and social life and causes many abnormalities. In today's society, the main concern is the increase in drug abuse among adolescents. Substance abuse has occurred in adolescents due to lack of awareness of the consequences of using these substances along with increasing their availability. There is not much information about the long-term effects of substance abuse during adolescence. According to human epidemiological evidence, adolescents with drug abuse are more likely to become addicted during adulthood. Although the mechanisms involved are not fully understood, it can be argued that physiological and behavioral differences between adolescents and adults are factors in initiating drug abuse during this period. Substance use during adolescence can have lasting effects throughout life. Animal studies have shown that exposure to substances such as alcohol, nicotine, opioids, cannabinoids, cocaine and methamphetamine can have lasting neurological and behavioral effects; In particular, these lasting effects are more common in areas of the brain that are developing during adolescence. In this article, we will discuss the findings of long-term changes due to drug abuse in adolescence on cognitive function during adulthood.