Risk-taking behaviors are prevalent in adolescents due to a combination of brain development and dopamine levels, leading to poor judgment in activities like substance abuse and reckless behavior. The adolescent brain's underdeveloped control system allows heightened reward responses, which can intensify risky actions. Positive involvement in healthy activities can mitigate these behaviors and promote healthier choices during this critical developmental phase.

1. Risk-Taking Behavior in Adolescence
Posted by Into Action Treatment on July 25, 2015 in Articles, Research
Increased risk- taking behaviors are commonly seen in teens and young adults, during their adolescent
years. Adolescence is often a time of poor judgement making and increase in risky behaviors like
drinking, drug experimentation, and sexual exploration. In spite of knowing the possibility of bad
consequences, most adolescents still commit the same risky acts. So, the question parents and adults
often ask is: why is risk-taking behaviors most common in adolescence? What is different in
adolescence that distinguishes it from childhood and adulthood?
The Adolescent Brain
Many neurological and behavioral studies have been done to understand the psyche of adolescents
regarding risk-taking behavior. Most answers point towards the brain of adolescents. The brain in
adolescence is different that of a child and that of an adult; it is in a unique stage of development and it
affects the behavior of teens. The brain studies of adolescents reported the fact that brain is not entirely
developed during adolescence. Some of the functions of brain are fully functional while others are not
yet developed. Reward and control systems are those concerned with risk-taking behaviors. The reward
system makes a personal ‘high’ and gives an immense joy in doing certain behaviors. The reward
system produces feelings of satisfaction, which may be a reason behind some high-risk behaviors. In
healthy adults, this reward system is balanced by a control system. No such thing is seen in
adolescents; the control system is not fully developed. A reward system run amuck appears to be the
main culprit of adolescent risk-taking behavior.
Another important factor in the brain that modulates risk-taking behaviors is the neurotransmitter,
dopamine. Dopamine is responsible for making teens satisfied when they do some daring act, from
dangerous bike or ski stunts, to reckless driving or drug experimentation. There are less dopamine-
inhibiting neurons in the adolescent brain, so dopamine levels run high.

2. Addiction is related to dopamine levels. People with high dopamine take drugs tend toward risky
behavior. People with active drug addiction tend to have high levels of dopamine due to drugs’ effects.
Hence, both of these factors are closely interrelated. Alcohol and substance abuse is the most common
risky behavior in adolescents, although sexual exploration is also very common; both can lead to
increases in dopamine levels. A constant increase in dopamine may lead to cravings for risky behaviors,
which give feelings of joy without caring for consequences.
Dopamine’s Influence on Risk-Taking Behavior
Whenever a risky-behavior is performed, there is a rush of dopamine in the brain and the person feels
excitement. The effects of drugs can do the same thing, which can lead to drug abuse. When an
adolescent abuses alcohol, prescription, or illicit drugs, their bodies start craving more to reach the
level of satiety due to the phenomenon known as drug tolerance. Cravings and heightened drug
tolerance lead to increased drug-seeking behavior, thus beginning the addiction cycle.
Risk-taking behaviors alone are not considered addictive, since the adolescent phase resolves,
anywhere between 18-22 years old. These behaviors can be controlled with adequate monitoring and
counseling by the parents and teachers. Involvement in healthy and rewarding activities, such as sports,
playing an instrument, and community activities have been shown to provide a protective property in
reducing dangerous risk-behaviors. Risk-taking combined with drug abuse, lead to addiction and
further physical and mental health problems. Understanding that risk-taking behavior is a natural
process in the life-stage development is important so that healthy but rewarding behaviors can be
learned.