Alcohol intoxication, stress in adolescence linked with long-term impairments

Repeated alcohol intoxication or exposure to stress appears to change how adolescent brains respond to danger.

These changes persist into adulthood.

In a study published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, adolescent mice repeatedly exposed to alcohol or stress were less cautious when evaluating risky situations and more readily engaged in risky behaviors in early adulthood.

These results suggest that adolescence is a critical time when alcohol and stress can reshape an individual's decision-making strategies and may provide insight into the behavioral consequences of early-life experiences. ...