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date: 16 February 2025

Substance Use and Misuse: Adolescentslocked

Substance Use and Misuse: Adolescentslocked

  • Sehun OhSehun OhThe Ohio State University College of Social Work
  • , and Daejun ParkDaejun ParkThe Ohio University College of Health Sciences and Professions

Summary

Adolescence—typically defined as ages between 10 and 19—is a period of physiological and socio-behavioral development. Characterized by an imbalance in the neurological development that governs the reward/emotion pathways and cognitive functioning as well as a shift toward more complex dynamics in their social environments, adolescents exhibit a unique vulnerability to substance use/misuse. Also importantly, adolescent substance use/misuse has a long-lasting impact on a wide array of current and future development and well-being, including neuropsychological growth, other risky behaviors, and behavioral health outcomes. The costly and long-lasting consequences of adolescent substance use/misuse underscore the importance of early identification and intervention (both prevention and treatment) to promote adolescents’ healthy development.

Despite the overall decline over the past decades in the United States, a large proportion of adolescents continues to engage in substance use/misuse, raising public concerns. With the increasing roles of peers and communities as well as the continued importance of family in substance use initiation and persistent use, an effective intervention approach must account for the influences of these multilevel systems by touching on modifiable determinants at the individual, family, peer, school/community, and macro levels. Furthermore, the ever-changing landscape of substance use/misuse in the United States, such as cannabis legalization, the increasing need for culturally responsive treatment, and the introduction of new technology, need to be considered to guide future directions for effective prevention and treatment.

Subjects

  • Addictions and Substance Use

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