New discoveries about adolescent brain development have opened up fresh ways of thinking about teen behavior, and offer new insight into how parents can help their teens understand the risks of drugs and alcohol. For instance:

• Scientific evidence reveals that the brain is fully mature at about age 25 — much later than previously believed.
• One of the last areas of the brain to develop is the Prefrontal Cortex, which is responsible for processing information, making judgments, controlling impulses, and foreseeing consequences.

This new information throws into stark relief the major risks of teenage substance use, including the possibility of causing permanent neurological damage to the developing brain. Concerned parents want to know how to apply these findings to real life. That's what A Parent's Guide to the Teen Brain is all about.

Through an entertaining and compelling mix of media — video, interactive segments, scenario-based role-playing experiences, expert advice, and practical tips — A Parent's Guide to the Teen Brain illustrates the links between teen behavior and the big changes happening in teen brains. In doing so, the site offers parents the keys to keeping their own perspective while guiding their teens more effectively through this tumultuous time of life.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America partnered with Treatment Research Institute and WGBH Educational Foundation to develop A Parent's Guide to the Teen Brain.

-------------------