英语听力文摘 English Digest 357、吸毒成瘾的科学解释

Adolescent Addictions²
青少年吸毒问题

What makes adolescents so vulnerable to developing addictions to substances like nicotine³, alcohol, and drugs? Teens, in particular, seem more vulnerable than any other age group. Is it a result of peer pressure? Of wanting to fit in?

In a word, no. Socio-cultural elements do play their role. However, scientists who analyzed⁴ the results of many studies on this subject believe the susceptibility of adolescents to substance addiction¹ also has to do with the state of development of a particular region in adolescent brains. They interpreted that the region of the brain that monitors impulse and motivation isn’t fully⁵ formed in adolescence⁶. This area of the brain experiences a lot of activity and change during adolescence. It’s due to this brain region’s hyperactivity and quick-fire change that adolescents are more likely than children and adults to want to try out new experiences, to be impulsive and take risks.

That may not sound so bad in theory, but the real downside about this region of the brain is that along with adolescent inhibitions may come experimentation⁷ and abuse of addictive⁸ drugs. In addition, because of the immature⁹ state of this brain region, adolescents may be quicker to succumb to nicotine, alcohol, and drug addiction, and to do so with greater permanency.

What can be done about it? This suggests that substance use disorders¹⁰ among adolescents are actually neurodevelopmental disorders as well; researchers and doctors may learn more about how to treat these patients by focusing on the particularities of the adolescent period and on the brain in that period.

 

是什么使得青少年很容易对像尼古丁，酒精和毒品这些物品上瘾？特别是青少年，他们似乎比其它任一年龄人群更脆弱。是来自同辈的压力吗？想融入群体？

总之，不是。社会文化因素是主要原因。科学家分析了许多相关研究调查，他们认为青少年对物质成瘾的敏感性与大脑内部某特定区域的发展情况有关。他们解释说大脑控制神经冲动和动机的区域是在青春期形成的。

大脑的这个部分在青春期经历许多活动并改变。由于青春期大脑的这个部分的极度活跃比小孩和速射大人都大，所以青少年更想尝试新的体验，更冲动和更愿意冒险。

这听起来可能不是那么糟糕，但这个区域的真正缺点是随着青少年情绪压抑，对成瘾药物的尝试和滥用也会随之而来。此外，由于这个大脑区域的不成熟状态，青少年也许会更快地屈服于尼古丁，酒精和毒品，并且更具有永久性。

我们可以做些什么呢？这表明，青少年的物质使用障碍实际上也是神经发育障碍；研究人员和医生可以通过关注青年期的青少年和那个时期大脑的特质，了解更多关于治疗这些病人的信息。

1 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

2 addictions   

瘾( addiction的名词复数 )； 吸毒成瘾； 沉溺； 癖好

参考例句：

• He has removed the stigma of drug addictions. 他已经洗去吸毒的污点了。
• Intelligent people are good at using reason to control excessive addictions. 智慧的人善于用理性来控制过度的嗜欲。

3 nicotine   

n.(化)尼古丁，烟碱

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。

4 analyzed   

v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析

参考例句：

• The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The young man did not analyze the process of his captivation and enrapturement, for love to him was a mystery and could not be analyzed. 这年轻人没有分析自己蛊惑著迷的过程，因为对他来说，爱是个不可分析的迷。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

6 adolescence   

n.青春期，青少年

参考例句：

• Adolescence is the process of going from childhood to maturity.青春期是从少年到成年的过渡期。
• The film is about the trials and tribulations of adolescence.这部电影讲述了青春期的麻烦和苦恼。

7 experimentation   

n.实验，试验，实验法

参考例句：

• Many people object to experimentation on animals.许多人反对用动物做实验。
• Study and analysis are likely to be far cheaper than experimentation.研究和分析的费用可能要比实验少得多。

8 addictive   

adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的

参考例句：

• The problem with video game is that they're addictive.电子游戏机的问题在于它们会使人上瘾。
• Cigarettes are highly addictive.香烟很容易使人上瘾。

9 immature   

adj.未成熟的，发育未全的，未充分发展的

参考例句：

• Tony seemed very shallow and immature.托尼看起来好像很肤浅，不夠成熟。
• The birds were in immature plumage.这些鸟儿羽翅未全。

10 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》