This report, commissioned by the Australian National Council on Drugs, begins with a literature review examining the prevalence of substance misuse among young people in Australia. The results of the review provide an indication of the number of families affected by youth substance misuse and the type of substance misuse that is most likely to occur. The report also investigates the support needs of families with a young family member, defined as being between the ages of 12 and 25, with substance abuse problems. The report is divided into six sections that include: the scope of the problem; the impacts of drug use on family and household functioning; how families respond to drug use by a young person; support and treatment options for young people; current support services for families: an Australian snapshot; and intergenerational effects: the problems faced by kinship carers. References