Book Review: THE TEENAGE BRAIN

 I try to keep current in my reading on the issues that present themselves in my practice, both out of an absolute need to be current but also because I practice law in this area by intention. These are the things that interest me.

 Recently, I read a book titled The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist's Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults. The author, Dr. Frances Jensen, is a neuroscientist and was a single mother to two teenage boys who are now in their twenties. I represent a lot of teenagers in my office, primarily because they made impulsive and often poor decisions that landed them in trouble with school or the legal system. For others, this period can be a rocky path where depression, anxiety and substance abuse issues surface.

 Marijuana use is relatively common among teenagers. Oftentimes, when a young person presents in my office with dropping grades, depression and anxiety, I ask about marijuana use. Frequently, parents will shrug and tell me that it isn't a big deal that their teen is smoking pot. The teenagers almost always dismiss this as harmless. I share some of my concerns and relay the research that suggests that marijuana use is not without negative consequences. Dr. Jensen's book provides solid support for this position.

 "People who are chronic marijuana users between 13 and 17, people who use daily or frequently for a period of time, like a year plus, have shown decreased verbal IQ, and their functional MRI's look different when they are imaged during a task. There's been a permanent cbange in their brains as a result of this that they may not ever be able to recover."

  When I mention this to my young clients, they will roll their eyes. Their parents tend to listen. The research also offers explanations for the reason that teenagers can be especially susceptible to addictions including drugs, smoking and digital devices.

  There are many other interesting aspects of this book. One of Dr. Jensen's recommendations is to limit your teen's access to digital devices after a certain hour at night.

  I recommend the book for parents and professionals.