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Current Trends in Adolescent Drug Use

NCJ Number
134129
Journal
Psychiatric Annals Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1991) Pages: 74-79
Author(s)
D E Smith; P Ehrlich; R B Seymour
Date Published
1991
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This overview of current trends in adolescent drug use assesses both current drugs of choice and the treatment options for adolescents.
Abstract
Data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse 1988 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Justice 1988 Drug Use Forecasting Annual Report indicate that nationwide, 25 percent of youths aged 12 to 17 have used illicit drugs. These drugs include marijuana, hallucinogens, inhalants, cocaine, heroin, or prescription-type psychotherapeutic drugs for nonmedical purposes. The latter include stimulants, sedatives, tranquilizers, and analgesics. There are considerable regional variations in adolescent drug abuse patterns. Patterns vary from neighborhood to neighborhood and, in the inner city, from one adolescent gang to the next. A major task in adolescent drug-dependence treatment is to help each youth achieve complete abstinence from all mind-altering drugs as a bridge to recovery. The overall recovery process requires that the youth make a fundamental identity shift from one who needs to use drugs to have a good time, relieve boredom, or overcome fear to one who can enjoy life and deal with its problems without the help of drugs. The difficulty in treating adolescents is that this involves building a new identity that is not part of the youth's prior self-consciousness. 12 references

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