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Review Papers | Neuroscience | Volume 15 Issue 2, February 2026 | Pages: 820 - 824 | India
Adolescent Substance Use Risk: A Review of Dopamine and Reward-System Development
Abstract: Adolescence represents a critical developmental period characterized by increased reward sensitivity, risk-taking, and heightened vulnerability to substance and other addictive behaviors. The literature is becoming increasingly clear that the influence of dopamine pathways, associated brain activity related to reward, and other neural mechanisms play a role in susceptibility to substance use during adolescent development. The reviewed articles present both converging and conflicting findings on dopaminergic sensitivity, functional connectivity of reward circuits, the role of stress and social context, and differences in adolescent development compared to younger adults. Overall, the evidence suggests that adolescent vulnerability to substance use emerges from the interaction of neurodevelopmental processes and emotional, social, and environmental factors.
Keywords: Adolescent Substance Use, Dopamine and Reward System, Neural Mechanisms of Addiction, Mesolimbic Pathway/Ventral Striatum Activation, Neurodevelopment and Risk Taking
How to Cite?: Sudiksha Lokesh, Shifa Maimunah, "Adolescent Substance Use Risk: A Review of Dopamine and Reward-System Development", Volume 15 Issue 2, February 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 820-824, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26212202613, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26212202613