There’s a lot cooking in the adolescent brain.

Our brains develop until about age 25. Studies show that the earlier youth use alcohol or other drugs, the more likely they are to have problems with addiction as adults, and the more damage they can do to key parts of their brain – including memory, learning, mood, and mental health.

We all play a role in supporting the health of Sauk County youth. By creating environments that “turn down the heat” in their adolescent brains, we can prevent problems with substance use from boiling over or even starting to simmer.