Hanna had been behaving oddly for days, moody and peremptory, and the same time palpably under some kind of pressure that was absolutely tormenting her and left her acutely sensitive and vulnerable.

In other words, key areas of the brain are still under construction during the adolescent years, and are more sensitive to the toxic effects of drugs and alcohol.

When your kids are afraid of the dark or the bogeyman under the bed, the appropriate thing as a parent is to be sensitive to their fears but also not to panic yourself.