Drugs and Young People

Health → Substance Abuse Problems →

Summary

Drug abuse is a serious public health problem. It affects almost every community and family in some way. Drug abuse in children and teenagers may pose a greater hazard than in older people. This is because their brains are not yet fully developed. As a result, the brains of young people may be more susceptible to drug abuse and addiction than adult brains.

Abused drugs include

There are different types of treatment for drug abuse. But it is better to prevent drug abuse in the first place.

NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse

Start Here

College-Age & Young Adults (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
Dealing with Addiction (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation)
Dealing with Drug Problems: Preventing and Treating Drug Abuse (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
Drugs: Shatter the Myths (National Institute on Drug Abuse) - PDF
Drugs: What You Should Know (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
NIDA for Teens (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
Popular Chat Day Q & A (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Diagnosis and Tests

Drug Testing (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Frequently Asked Questions about Drug Testing in Schools (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Prevention and Risk Factors

Drug Abuse Prevention Starts with Parents (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Family Checkup: Positive Parenting Prevents Drug Abuse (National Institute on Drug Abuse) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

Substance Abuse Treatment for Children and Adolescents: Questions to Ask (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF Also in Spanish

Related Issues

Brain and Addiction (National Institute on Drug Abuse) Also in Spanish
How to Identify Drug Paraphernalia (Drug Enforcement Administration)

Specifics

What Are Bath Salts? (National Institute on Drug Abuse) Also in Spanish
What Is Salvia? (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Videos and Tutorials

Drugs + HIV, Learn the Link (National Institute on Drug Abuse) Also in Spanish

Games

National Drug IQ Challenge (National Institute on Drug Abuse) Also in Spanish
Test Your Knowledge (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Statistics and Research

Among High School Seniors, Driving After Marijuana Use Surpasses Drunk Driving (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
High School and Youth Trends (National Institute on Drug Abuse) Also in Spanish
Monitoring the Future 2014 Survey Results (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (National Institute on Drug Abuse) - PDF

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Drugs and Young People (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Services Locator (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
Drug Enforcement Administration
National Institute on Drug Abuse Also in Spanish
Partnership at Drugfree.org (Partnership for a Drug-Free America)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

Children

What You Need to Know about Drugs (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

Toxicology screen (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Basics

Learn More

See, Play and Learn

Research

Resources

For You