Join us to explore what makes the adolescent brain uniquely wired for growth, creativity, and connection and why that same wiring also makes teens more prone to impulsivity, risk-taking, and vulnerability to substance use. We'll discuss the science behind why adolescence is a critical window for substance use risk and how substances uniquely affect the developing teen brain. Leave with a clearer understanding of your teen's brainand better tools to support them through it.

Featured Guest Speaker

Maria Kristensen, DNP, MPH is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner at Marin Community Clinic, specializing in family and addiction medicine. Since 2009, Maria has championed health equity and community medicine, providing primary care to underserved populations in Chicago, Charlotte, and Peru. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, she holds an ANCC certification and has a strong interest in holistic medicine and public health policy. Maria is also an avid educator who has taught at UCSF and elsewhere. She resides in Marin with her partner and four children.