Which factors influence AOD risk in young people?

• A. Age, brain development, and gender.
• B. Only age.
• C. Brain development, metabolism by gender, and other factors.
• D. Age, brain development, and gender.

Answer: (D)

Factors that influence AOD risk in young people include age, brain development, and gender. Age matters because younger teens face different social pressures, access, and opportunities to experiment, and risk patterns shift as they grow older. Brain development is still underway during adolescence, affecting judgment, impulse control, and how the brain responds to rewards and substances, which can heighten risk-taking and vulnerability to harm. Gender matters because biological and hormonal differences can influence how substances are processed in the body, how intoxication develops, and the kinds of risks or health effects experienced, and social factors can also shape use patterns. Together, these three factors provide a comprehensive view of why risk is higher for some young people. Leaving out any one of them would miss a key part of the picture, and focusing on only age or mixing in other factors without recognizing age and brain development can overlook important ways risk changes during adolescence.