Journal of Alcoholism & Drug Dependence
Open Access

Adolescent Substance Abuse

Adolescent substance use—smoking, drinking, misusing prescription drugs and using illegal drugs—is, by any measure, a public health problem of epidemic proportion, presenting clear and present danger to millions of  teenagers and severe and expensive long-range consequences for our entire population.Adolescent substance use and misuse are serious issues that contribute to significant medical, psychological, and legal consequences later in life. While it can be difficult to prevent and treat substance misuse among adolescents, scientists have discovered a number of strategies that are effective among this high-risk population.