Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

Substance use and abuse remains a major public health issue of adolescents throughout the world, including the United States. Encouragement by the media, peers, and many adults along with easy access to drugs of all types continues to lure countless millions of youth into use and abuse of many drugs. Results of the 2019 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance notes that there is significant abuse of drugs including illicit drugs but also prescription medications including stimulants, synthetic narcotics, and “recreational” cough syrups and several more emerging as we write. This discussion considers various drugs, including tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, and some of the designer drugs.

Keywords: Children, youth, adolescence, substance use, substance abuse, public health