Adolescent Brain and Nicotine

Adolescence is a period of transition between childhood and adulthood that involves major changes in development in the physical, psychological, social and neurobiological domains. During this phase of life, multiple physical and emotional events occur throughout the body, markedly in the central nervous system, regulated by neurohormones, which are fundamental for human development, responsible for changes in thoughts, attitudes and behaviors that culminate in complete maturity for a laborious and reproductive life. Due to the liability of the neurological tissue in this period, external aggressions by means of chemical substances can cause serious and lasting effects. Nicotine is one of the substances considered legal and that more easily the adolescent comes into contact early, and can cause many harm to current and future health. This article presents some characteristics of the development of the adolescent's nervous system and the deleterious actions that can be caused by nicotine in its various forms of social presentation.

Author(s): Luiz Antonio Del Ciampo and Ieda Regina Lopes Del Ciampo

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