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

• 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

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.

• Information on how alcohol, cannabis, MDMA and e-cigarette/vape use interferes with the development of the brain.
• Increased knowledge of drug-related effects and harms.

Expert Review*:
The Respect Your Brain videos explain how different drugs affect brain development and which areas of the brain are affected. The videos are supported by more in depth information including where a young person can seek help for alcohol and other drug issues and links to more alcohol and other drug facts on the NSW Health drug and alcohol website. Additionally, the videos map onto several Alcohol and other Drugs (AD) components of Australian Health and Physical Education curriculum for Year 9–10.

* Review provided by researchers at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney.