What are some potential outcomes of neurocognitive alterations due to substance use in adolescents?

The potential outcomes of neurocognitive alterations due to substance use in adolescents primarily include behavioral, emotional, and social problems. Substance use can disrupt normal brain development during a critical period of adolescence, leading to various challenges in emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior.

Adolescents may experience mood swings, increased aggression, anxiety, and depression as a result of these neurocognitive changes. This can hinder their ability to maintain healthy relationships with peers and family, contributing to further emotional distress and possible social isolation. Additionally, these alterations can lead to maladaptive behaviors, such as risk-taking and poor decision-making, which can further complicate their emotional and social well-being.

While neurocognitive alterations generally do not lead to increased physical fitness or heightened academic success, they are more likely to correlate with lower academic performance due to impaired cognitive functions and attention issues that affect learning. Lower rates of school attendance could also result from the consequences of substance use, but they are secondary to the behavioral, emotional, and social problems arising from neurocognitive impairments. Thus, the comprehensive impact on adolescents is far more significant in terms of their behavioral, emotional, and social difficulties.