The research has gathered data using epidemiological approaches, experimental studies, and interviews with former addicts. The results show that initiation into the use of legal substances such as alcohol, nicotine, and prescription drugs takes place early in life for most people in industrial societies. Society is relatively tolerant of deviant behavior by the young, and juvenile drug abuse is often a collective reaction to adverse and restrictive life conditions and occurs in the context of a group subculture. In contrast, adults' drug abuse is an individual and often hidden coping strategy. In addition, stopping drug abuse may involve different rewards for youth and adults. The findings indicate the need to provide alternative rewarding activities and social setting and to help people vary daily routines and improve their subjective sense of control over life. Further research should include periodic data collection from specific population groups and longitudinal studies of developmental patterns of drug abuse and its associated problems. 22 references