Respect Your Brain: the effect of drugs on the developing brain

The Respect Your Brain animated video series for young people explores the effects of alcohol, cannabis, MDMA and vaping on the development of the adolescent brain, as well as the impacts on behaviour.

A teenage brain is considered by scientists to be highly 'neuroplastic'. Because adolescence and emerging adulthood (up to 25 years old) is a time of organising, construction and strengthening of connections in the brain it is a time of growth, but also means the brain is vulnerable to damage.

• NSW Health, Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs
• The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, the University of Sydney
• Square Cell Visual Science Communication