Educational Media Reviews Online

Aimed at the young adult viewer, Everything You Need to Know About Drugs and the Teen Brain in 22 Minutes pretty much lives up to its title claims. This brief yet powerful program stresses the impact that drugs and alcohol have on the still developing teen brain. The DVD is divided into chapters that can be accessed separately from the main menu or played as a continuous program—always nice for classroom use. The opening chapters provide a very accessible introduction to neuroanatomy and neurophysiology for young adults (or anyone who is not familiar, for that matter) using animations to illustrate different processes. This sets the stage for the program, and the successful formulaic approach that Human Relations Media has developed is underway. Here you have the two attractive young adult hosts/narrators (Katie Chung and Max Rein), expert researcher testimonies, simple yet effective graphic animations (including a countdown clock that proves they are adhering to the 22 minutes time frame), and upbeat background music—all techniques that keep the program buoyant and on target.

One of the main themes of the video—what drugs do physically to the brain and the resulting behaviors—is stressed in every chapter. The program’s intent is to make an impression on teens, and it succeeds, yet never taking the “scared straight” approach, but presenting the facts in a straightforward way leaving the viewer to make their own decisions about drug use. The research findings are compelling, current and expertly explained. Highly recommended not only for the intended teen audience, but for students in the health sciences who may be working with teens in the health care or social work settings. A 25 page Teacher’s Resource Book in pdf format is also included on the DVD.