Traumatic Brain Injury and Substance Abuse in Adolescents

Rates of traumatic brain injury among adolescents is much higher than previously thought, a recent study found. One in five students in grades 7-12 have experienced head injuries that either left them unconscious for five minutes or caused them to be hospitalized overnight.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) had a higher rate among males than females, a higher rate among those with lower school grades, and a higher rate among those who self-reported using alcohol or marijuana in the previous 12 months.

Ow! (Image via.)

This study is particularly significant because, unlike previous studies, the researchers included self-reported TBIs. Many TBIs go unreported and untreated, therefore reliance upon hospital data alone will not accurately capture the rate of TBIs among adolescents.

Perhaps the most striking statistic of the study is that students who occasionally to frequently used alcohol within the last year were five times more likely to have suffered a TBI. Students who had reported using cannabis ten or more times in the last year were three times as likely to have suffered a TBI.

So, aside from the simple toxicity of alcohol and drugs, occasional to frequent substance abuse can also increase your risk of head trauma, with lasting effects on the brain.

References:

1. Gabriela Ilie et al. Prevalence and Correlates of Traumatic Brain Injuries Among Adolescents. JAMA, 2013; 309 (24): 2550 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2013.6750
2. St. Michael's Hospital (2013, June 25). One in five students in Grades 7-12 say they have had a traumatic brain injury in their lifetime.ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 1, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­/releases/2013/06/130625172356.htm