Adolescent Substance Abuse

Adolescent Substance Abuse

Adolescent substance abuse continues to be epidemic in American society -- it crosses geographic, economic, gender, racial, and ethnic lines. In addition, more than a decade of national, state, and local prevention efforts have been minimally effective. It is a major problem that continues to escape our control.

Nearly 9 out of 10 high school seniors in America report that they have experimented with alcohol. Within this group, 3 out of 10 report alcohol abuse (defined as the consumption of five or more drinks in a row at least once during the past two weeks). Three out of four teens report a pattern of regular drinking, and more than 100,000 children aged 10 or 11 report that they get drunk once a week.

Between 2 and 6 percent of teens are problem drinkers, 8 to 13 percent have an alcohol abuse problem, and 6 to 9 percent have other drug abuse problems. Fifty percent of all adolescents admitted to psychiatric wards admit to moderate to heavy substance abuse.

National research reports indicate alarming of marijuana as well as stimulants, LSD, inhalants, and ci...

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...in need of treatment.

This combination of use and abuse, peer group indifference, and lack of traditional in- or out-patient rehabilitation facilities for adolescents is significant. It is important to look at use and abuse patterns, at-risk factors, treatment issues, and to generate both effective treatment and prevention strategies for this population. They are sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, neighbors. They will parent the next generation, decide issues of war and peace, and be the link to future generations.

Attention must be paid.