Together, studies of this nature provide increasing evidence that adolescence may be an ontogenetic period of unique motivational sensitivity for natural rewards, as well as for drugs and alcohol, with social context enhancing the rewarding effects of drugs (Theil et al., 2008, 2009), and attenuating their aversive properties (Vetter-O’Hagen et al., 2009). During adolescence, an increased sensitivity to drug reward, combined with a relative resistance to aversive drug consequences, could increase not only the likelihood of continuing use due to initial pleasant drug experiences, but also the magnitude of subsequent use due to a decreased sensitivity to the aversive components of that use.
