A nurse is educating a group of clients about addiction. The nurse should include that which of the following factors increases the potential for addiction?

Rationale: A. Adults have fully developed brains, particularly in areas responsible for executive function, decision-making, and impulse control. Because the brain’s reward pathways are more stable, substance use that begins in adulthood carries a lower risk of leading to addiction compared with use during the developmental years. While adult-onset substance use can still lead to addiction, it is not as potent a risk factor as early exposure. B. Access to treatment may reduce the risk of progression once addiction occurs by providing support, counseling, and medication-assisted therapy. Insurance coverage itself does not increase the likelihood of developing addiction; instead, it facilitates access to care and recovery services. C. Pre-existing cognitive deficits or neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., ADHD, traumatic brain injury) can make some individuals more susceptible to substance misuse, particularly due to impaired judgment or impulse control. However, this factor is less universal than early exposure and affects a smaller subset of the population. D. Early substance exposure is the most significant risk factor for developing addiction. During adolescence and early childhood, the brain undergoes critical development in the prefrontal cortex and mesolimbic reward system. Substances can alter dopamine pathways, impair decision-making, impulse control, and reward sensitivity, and create long-lasting changes that increase susceptibility to addiction. The earlier the exposure, the higher the likelihood of establishing habitual substance use and experiencing dependency later in life.