Tailoring your adult drug court

Michael Nerney

Michael Nerney and AssociatesP.O. Box 93

Long Lake, NY, 12847-0093518-624-5351

mcnerneyLL@frontiernet.net

New research on theadolescent brain

• Discoveries from Neuroimaging

–fMRI

–Diffusion Spectrum Imaging

–SQUID Magnetometry

–MEG Magnetoencephalography

Developmental changes

•Chemical Trigger for Puberty

–Kisspeptin

–Signal to Endocrine System

–Production of New Hormones

–Male/Female

Adolescent hormones

•Pituitary Growth Hormone (PGH)

–Physical Growth

•Skeletal

•Muscular

•Head and Face

–Self Esteem drop Spotlight phenomenon

Why is this Brain at Risk?

•200 Billion Cells

–Grey Matter–White Matter–Emerging Adult Brain

•Migration and Activation

–Cell Migration–Benchmarks

The brain

Why is this Brain at Risk?Cont.

•Emotional Intensity

–2 to 4 Times

–More Frequent Change

–Male/Female

•Legitimate/Normal

Why is this brain At risk?Cont.

•Emotional Intensity

–Mirror, Mirror on the wall–A/A sites

•Male/Female Brain Differences

why is this brain at risk?Cont.

•Problem Solving–Social/Emotional Crisis–Re-arrest–Detention

•The Crisis Chemical–THP

•Emotional Support Essential

Risk factors, cont.• E

motional Stressors

–Social Bonding–Negative Emotions

• Boredom

• Money

Two different worlds• Corpus Callosum

• 7-13% larger, more active

• Integration of Information

• Reporting to Central Command

Does Size Matter?• Brain Volume

• Size and Weight

• Location

• Gray Matter

Does Size Matter?• Brain Density

• 11% Greater

• Blood Supply

• 15% Greater Flow

Two Different Worlds

• Right Side – Left Side

• One side rules

• Two are better

• White Matter

Senses

• Visual

– Light and Color

• Auditory

– Pitch

– Source

senses

• Olfactory

• Tactile

I Second That Emotion• Responding to Feelings

• Preferences

• Anger

• Depression

Emotional Safety• No Put Downs

• Adult Intervention

• Careful Compliments

• Universal

I Second That Emotion

• Love or Lust

• Oxytocin• Vasopressin

• -Breaking Up is Hard to Do

BY HIGH SCHOOL

Males

• Use pronoun “I”• Events• Solutions• Activities• Feelings• (Exclusive)

Females

• Use “we”• Feelings• Intimacies• Details• Solutions• (Inclusive)

Lessons to learn

• In Family or Group:

• Same Gender Different Expectations

• Mixed Gender Accommodate Differences

Lessons to Learn• In School, College and Training:

• Math and Science

• Testing

Lessons to learn

• More Males need practice re: Feelings

• Identify• Surface• Articulate• Process• Manage

Lessons to learn

• More Females need practice re: Action

• Strategize• Action plan• Role play• Implementation

success

• Praise and Encouragement

• Positive Reinforcement

– Perseverance

– Effort

– Strategies

– Learn from failure

The world of work

• Who is the Boss?

• Who are the Peers?

• What about the Money?

Relapse CONCERNS

•Brain Changes Related to Substance Abuse

–Reward System Shutdown•Systemic Chemical Change•CREB

–Embedded Emotional Memory•New Protein Activity•PKMzeta

Why is this brain at risk?Cont.

• A Work in Progress

–Stages of Adolescent Development

• Emerging Adult Brain

–The Long and Winding Road

High risk behaviors

•Drug and Alcohol Use

Medicate for Feelings

•Limited Practice Skills–No Life Skills

•Social/Emotional•Relationship

•Adult Brain–Less Fire Power–Harder Work

COMPONENTS OF TRUST

1. Reliability

2. Predictability

3. Faith