Volunteers Needed: Discover If You're Likely to Use

Recently, in the first few weeks of August 2014 it was announced by NIDA, National Institute on Drug, that they are in the beginning works of starting a longitudinal research study on how the developing brain is affected by the use of marijuana, especially when alcohol and other drugs are used as well. Their plan is to have 10,000 children around the age of 10 volunteer who are said to be susceptible to using, either because of their parents SES or if their parents use and such. The research will carry on for the next ten years by the children getting brain scans done every two years to track the changes. Naturally, NIDA has some hopes for this study of what the results will yield; being that there is not a lot of research and evidence of how brain development works and if it is affected by drug use or not. Therefore this study will be an enlightening one on both the environmental and genetic influences on development. Also, if the research doesn’t pull through as they hope there will be a lot of profitable information simply on the developing brain and its workings.

   

There are some limitations to such a vast, ambitious study though. Keeping track of 10,000 individuals for ten years will prove to be a rather large feat, as well as making sure it’s not cumbersome for the participants. Also, some uncertainties mentioned in the article itself were that with all the changing technology across these next ten years will it even be possible to compare scans to scans and all the cost that comes with that.

If the research proves fruitful though there will be many implications of this research; many questions that have been pondered for years will be closer to definite answers. There is much debate and back and forth discussion on the true reason why people start doing drugs. Is it because their environment and culture has shaped them? Perhaps is it because their genes are more susceptible to drugs? Could it be that their parents used so it’s natural to model that example? Is one’s brain predetermined to use regardless of the factors and influences around him/her? In ten years we may be closer to some answers and not just a vast chain of questions. 

Reardon, Sarah. (2014). Teen drug use gets super size study. Nature. 512(7513), 123-24.

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