Decision-Making & The Teenage Brain
The Brain Can Heal
Drugs and Dopamine
Addiction & Dependency
Anabolic Steroids
100
True or False — The teenage brain is fully developed by age 16
False — the brain, especially the prefrontal cortex, isn't fully developed until around age 25.
100
2000 Points!!!
Name one healthy activity that research shows actually helps the brain recover and build new connections.
Exercise, sleep, creative activities, learning something new, healthy relationships
100
What chemical in the brain helps create feelings of pleasure and reward?
Dopamine
100
What is the medical term for addiction?
Substance Use Disorder.
100
What are anabolic steroids, and why do some people use them?
Anabolic steroids are synthetic (lab-made) versions of testosterone, a hormone the body makes naturally. People use them to build muscle faster, improve athletic performance, or change how their body looks.
200
What part of the brain is responsible for making thoughtful decisions and controlling impulses?
The prefrontal cortex
200
What is the brain's ability to change, grow new connections, and recover called?
Neuroplasticity
200
What happens to dopamine levels when many drugs are used?
Drugs cause a much larger release of dopamine than normal.
200
What term describes continued physical reliance on a drug despite negative consequences?
Drug dependency.
200
Name two short-term side effects of anabolic steroid use in teenagers.
Bonus 100 points: How does chronic anabolic steroid use effect men's testicles.
severe acne, mood swings or aggression, increased risk of injury to tendons and ligaments, changes in sex drive, early stopping of bone growth (which can limit final height), or oily skin/hair.
Bonus: testicles reduce activity which means that atrophy (shrink).
300
Why might a teenager make a riskier decision when their friends are watching compared to when they're alone?
The teenage brain is more sensitive to social rewards — peer presence activates the brain's reward system, making risky choices feel more appealing.
Bonus 100 points: Why do you think the teenage brain is more sensitive to what others may think?
300
True or False — Once drugs damage the brain, it can never recover
False — the brain has significant capacity to heal, especially in younger people, though some effects can last longer depending on the substance and frequency of use.
some conditions can be permanent if the brain is damaged too severely.
300
Why can drugs feel good at first but still be harmful over time?
They overstimulate the brain’s reward system, which can change how the brain works.
300
What is tolerance?
When a person’s reaction to a drug decreases over time, so they need more to feel the same effect.
300
Why are anabolic steroids considered especially risky for teenagers compared to adults?
Teenagers' bodies are still developing. Steroids can interfere with the growth plates in bones, potentially stunting height. They also disrupt the natural hormonal system during puberty, which can cause lasting changes to how the body produces hormones on its own.
400
What part of the brain drives emotions and the search for excitement and rewards — and is very active during the teen years?
The limbic system (also accept amygdala)
400
Why is adolescence actually an advantage when it comes to brain recovery?
Because the teenage brain is still developing and highly plastic — meaning it's more capable of forming new connections and recovering than an adult brain.
Bonus 100: What is it called when a teenage brain trims away unused neural pathways?
400
How can repeated drug use affect what the brain finds rewarding?
The brain may start valuing the drug more than normal healthy activities.
Bonus 100 points: Someone shares their experience with drug use on their ability to have fun sober.
400
What is withdrawal? and why does it occur?
Negative symptoms that occur when someone stops using a drug. The body no longer produces certain chemicals in the brain and body that the substances provide.
400
What is "roid rage," and what does research say about it?
"Roid rage" refers to intense mood swings, irritability, or aggressive outbursts linked to steroid use. Research confirms that high doses of anabolic steroids can affect the brain's regulation of emotions and increase aggression, especially in people already prone to anger or impulsivity. It's a real, documented side effect.
500
Think about a time you made a decision you later regretted. Without sharing details, what do you think was going on in your brain in that moment — was it more emotion or more thinking?
2 people must answer
500
Sleep is one of the most powerful tools for brain recovery. What happens in the brain during deep sleep that makes it so important for healing?
The brain clears out waste products, consolidates memories, and repairs neural connections — basically doing maintenance work it can't do while you're awake. Your body "washes" your brain with your Cerebrospinal Fluid.
500
What role does dopamine play in the brain?
Dopamine helps teach our brains what to continue doing. Drugs hijack this process and lead to unhealthy habits being formed.
500
Explain the concept of "chasing the high" and why it leads to a cycle of addiction.
First use creates intense dopamine release. The brain compensates by reducing dopamine receptors. Normal activities feel gray and flat. The person needs more drug just to feel normal — not even to feel good. This is the addiction cycle.
Bonus 100 points: How has addiction affected your life either directly or indirectly?
500
Anabolic steroids are a Schedule III controlled substance. What does that mean, and what are possible legal consequences of possession?
Schedule III means the federal government classifies them as having moderate potential for abuse and physical dependence. Possessing anabolic steroids without a valid prescription can result in criminal charges, including up to one year in prison and fines for a first offense, more for intent to distribute. Many sports organizations also ban them and test for use.