The Adolescent Brain, Behaviors, & Substance Use

for professionals in psychology, behavioral health, and social work

Presented by Dr. Alexander Wallace

Videos

The following videos are Part 1 and Part 2 of Dr. Alex Wallace’s training on the “The Adolescent Brain, Behaviors, and Substance Use.” This presentation offers information on the adolescent development including changes in behavior and how these changes are related
with brain development as well as the relationships between substance use and behaviors common in adolescents.

Part 1:
The Adolescent Brain, Behaviors,
and Substance Use

(Dr. Alex Wallace)

Part 2:
The Adolescent Brain, Behaviors,
and Substance Use

(Dr. Alex Wallace)

Description:

As adolescence is a time of great change, it is important to understand how adolescent behavior progresses as youth transition into early adulthood. This training will highlight adolescent development including changes in behavior and how these changes are related with brain development. Further, as substance use also increases during this developmental period, it is important to be aware of rates of experimentation and potentially problematic substance use. Therefore, this training will provide information on the relationships between substance use and behaviors common in adolescents.

Date Presented: Tues., Oct. 24, 2023 10:00am 1:00pm (Central)
Date Training Expires: Oct. 24, 2025

Objectives:

  • Explain the relationship between changes in brain development and how they relate to behaviors in adolescence.
  • Identify the prevalence of three commonly used substances in adolescence.
  • Describe how certain behaviors in adolescence put certain youth at risk for higher substance use.

About the Speaker

Amy Brinkley portrait

Dr. Alexander Wallace

PhD

Dr. Alex Wallace graduated with a Ph.D. in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Wallace’s work focuses on the effects of substance use in adolescence on neurodevelopment including both structural and functional outcomes. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California – San Diego where he is working on a national multi-site longitudinal study (the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study) to better understand how health factors (e.g., substance use, caffeine, sleep) impact comorbid pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders.

These trainings were funded in whole or in part by funds from the SAMHSA Community Mental Health Block Grant, SAMHSA Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant and state funds sub-granted from the Nebraska Department of Health and Services, Division of Behavioral Health.