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The time is now to significantly change our national approach to adolescent (and young adult) substance abuse. In the text that follows you will see that research has already charted the way for better, more efficient adolescent prevention, intervention, treatment and continuing care. The evidence is clear that adolescent substance use can be prevented; abuse can be identified and reduced;
and dependence can be effectively treated. Through coordinated and targeted efforts, we can create important and sustained changes in the way care is delivered to adolescents (and emerging adults) and significantly narrow (and at some point potentially eliminate) the pipeline to adult substance abuse treatment services.
At no other time in an individual’s development are the stakes of drug experimentation so high: ADOLESCENCE IS THE AT RISK PERIOD for developing a substance use disorder [2-7].
12-20 YEA R S
PAV I N G T H E W AY T O C H A N G E | R e p o r t b y t h e T r e a t m e n t R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e | 2 0 1 4