http://www.fpnotebook.com/

Adolescent Drug Abuse

Aka: Adolescent Drug Abuse, Adolescent Chemical Dependency, Drug Abuse in Adolescents

See Also
1. Chemical Dependency
2. Substance Abuse Evaluation
Pathophysiology: Drug progression among teen users (NY study n=7611)
1. Level 1: Alcohol and Tobacco use
2. Level 2: Marijuana ("Gateway Drug")
3. Level 3: Stimulants, Inhalants or Hallucinogen use
4. Level 4: Cocaine abuse
5. Level 5: Crack use
Risk Factors: Social corollaries to escalating use
1. Declining:
  1. Decreasing Grades and Homework time
  2. Decreasing Family and Religious involvement
  3. Decreased parental rule following
  4. Decreasing health status
2. Rising
  1. Increased absenteeism
  2. Increased doctor visit frequency
Prevention: Efficacy of school programs
1. D.A.R.E school based program is ineffective
  1. West (2004) Am J Public Health 94:1027-9
Resources
1. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
  1. http://www.tobaccofreekids.org
2. School Health Program Guidelines
  1. http://www.cdc.gov/needphp/dash/guide.htm
References
1. (1994) Am Fam Physician 50(8):1737-40

Family Practice Notebook

Patients should address specific medical concerns with their physicians.

Although access to this page is not restricted, the information found here is intended for use by medical providers.

This page was written by Scott Moses, MD, last revised on 12/19/2011 and last published on 5/14/2013.

This is one of 5887 pages in the Family Practice Notebook