A Congressional Briefing Sponsored by

The Friends of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and
the Friends of the National Institute on Drug Abuse

In cooperation with

The Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus

Monday, September 19, 2016, 12:00 – 1:30 PM (lunch will be available)
Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (2168)

Please RSVP Here. Contact Cynthia Malley (cmalley@apa.org) with any further questions.
Click here for more information.

Adolescence is a time of extraordinary physical, emotional, and intellectual growth. It is also a period of increased
vulnerability when risky behaviors, such as use of alcohol, nicotine, marijuana and other drugs, emerge as youth attempt
to navigate an increasingly complex world. Yet, there is much we do not understand about how individual childhood
experiences (e.g., exercise and sports, videogames, unhealthy sleep patterns, substance exposure, etc.) influence
development and either promote or interfere with long-term cognitive, behavioral and physical health outcomes. The
Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, the largest long-term study of brain development and child
health in the United States, was designed to address these knowledge gaps. Integrating structural and functional brain
imaging with genetics, neuropsychological, behavioral, and other health assessments, scientists will study approximately
10,000 children across the country beginning at ages 9-10, through adolescence and into young adulthood to determine
the many factors that can enhance or disrupt a young person’s life trajectory. The actionable information coming out of
this study will enable education, substance use prevention, and other health promotion policies to ensure the wellbeing
and success of the Nation’s children.