Substance Misuse and Abuse

Adolescent substance misuse and abuse have been the changing focus of the popular press in the United States and the general public since the late 1970s. In fact, it was in the late 1970s when the United States first became aware of the widespread use of alcohol and drugs among adolescents in the general population. The high levels of drug and alcohol use were reported by the national Monitoring the Future Study. Although the overall rates of alcohol and drug misuse and abuse have changed over time and decreased from the highest levels in the late 1970s, substance misuse and abuse continue to be problems among U.S. adolescents.