This session provides a focused overview of substance use in adolescents and young adults, including the impact of brain development on vulnerability to substance use disorders, aligned with the ACAAM National Addiction Medicine Didactic Curriculum and ABPM content areas.
What This Covers • Key differences between adolescent and adult substance use patterns • Neurobiologic factors related to brain development and increased vulnerability to substance use disorders • Epidemiology and risk factors for substance use in adolescents and young adults • The influence of neurodevelopment, adverse childhood experiences, and social context on substance use patterns • Clinical features and early indicators of substance use disorders in youth • Screening strategies and approaches to early identification • Developmentally appropriate treatment approaches, including family engagement and risk reduction strategies
How This Resource Is Used This session is designed for on-demand learning and targeted content review. It can be used to reinforce specific knowledge areas or as part of structured board preparation.
Kenneth A. Zoucha, MD FAAP DFASAM
Dr. Zoucha is an addiction medicine physician and pediatrician who serves as Director of Addiction Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is board certified in Pediatrics and Addiction Medicine and is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
He has extensive experience in the treatment of substance use disorders in adolescents and in medical education, including leadership of addiction medicine training and fellowship development.
To support a meaningful learning experience and recognize your participation:
Access PeriodAccess to this recording is available through June 30, 2027, in alignment with ACAAM’s annual academic cycle.
Recording Release CycleACAAM releases updated recorded sessions each July based on the prior academic year’s didactic series. These recordings are available for a limited time and are retired on June 30 of the following year as new content is released.