Although child or teenage drug use is an individual behavior, it is embedded in a sociocultural context that strongly determines its character and manifestations. It is critical to draw a distinction between the use and the abuse of drugs and to do so from a multidimensional perspective. Past preventive programs have had mixed, sometimes adverse, effects. Adolescence is a period of experimentation; it is important to delay the onset of regular drug use as long as possible. It is even more important to prevent the misuse, abuse, and problem use of drugs. Treatment programs typically blur the distinction between use and abuse in order to stimulate profit. Further, long-term consequences tend to be ignored in favor of short-term ones. 19 references (Author abstract modified)