• Age-appropriate youth substance use prevention efforts, beginning at a young age, are our best chance of “vaccinating” young people against future addiction. If first use of alcohol or other drugs is delayed until the brain is fully developed (~25 years old) the risk of addiction is dramatically reduced.

• Addiction is now considered a pediatric disease, with 9 out of 10 people who develop an addiction first using alcohol or another drug before the age of 18.

• A comprehensive community-based approach to youth substance use prevention includes multiple strategies in multiple domains. Some of these strategies include:

  • Environmental strategies, including policies, that reduce access and availability of alcohol and other drugs to young people are important elements of youth substance use prevention.

  • Community, school, and family norms that model healthy, substance-free, ways to cope with stress and have fun help to reduce teen substance use.

  • Universal age-appropriate prevention education. At an early age, this can include age-appropriate lessons on brain science and social-emotional learning skill development. As children approach middle school, information regarding the impact of alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs on the brain and body helps to increase the perception of harm and reduce teen substance use.

  • Strong perception of parental and peer disapproval of teen substance use are among the most important factors that decrease the likelihood of teen substance use.¹⁸

• The experience of addiction can feel scary and isolating. Negative stereotypes about addicted people may worsen their sense of shame, fear, and guilt. While conversations about addiction should be honest and heartfelt, it’s crucial to refrain from using judgmental language when describing those with substance use disorders.

• Insensitive language contributes to stigma, which prevents many from seeking the treatment they need – and deserve. Here are some harmful terms to avoid: “Addict”, “Alcoholic”, “Abuser”, “Clean”, and “Relapse”.

• Quality and compassionate care of those struggling with addiction, as with any other health condition, is critical to short and long-term recovery.²²

• As with other physical and mental health issues, early detection of substance use, behavioral assessment, and appropriate intervention measures are important to ensure the best possible health and safety outcomes for young people.

• In the wake of COVID-19, youth are facing unprecedented mental health challenges. Early detection has the potential to mitigate the mental health crisis¹⁹ by minimizing interruptions to education, delaying or preventing onset of serious psychiatric illness, and decreasing the need for utilization of already limited adolescent behavioral health services and resources.

• Parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals can learn about risk factors for substance use and common warning signs indicative of substance use, thus creating an opportunity for early intervention.

  • Risk factors increase the likelihood that adolescents will use substances or develop addiction. They should be taken into consideration with protective factors, which decrease the likelihood that adolescents will use substances or develop addiction.

    • Common risk factors include: alcohol and/or other drug availability in the community; exposure to ads for alcohol and/or other drugs; neighborhood poverty and/or violence; family history of alcohol and/or other drug use; family or personal history of mental illness (e.g., depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, psychosis); friends who use alcohol and/or other drugs; childhood trauma (e.g., abuse, neglect); lack of strong, healthy bonds with caregivers, parents, or trusted adults; aggressive behavior; high levels of risk taking or impulsivity; being caught using alcohol and/or other substances at school or a school sanctioned event; belief that most teens use alcohol and/or other drugs; and belief that alcohol and/or other drugs are not harmful for teens. To learn more about risk and protective factors, click here.

  • Common warning signs of drug use in adolescents are changes to behavior and mannerisms. ²⁰ See Signs and Symptoms under “Substance Use 101” for common warning signs in adolescents. When warning signs go unnoticed or confused with a normal part of adolescent development, an opportunity for early intervention may be missed. Communication and developing trusted relationships with adolescents are not only powerful protective factors, but also provide an opportunity to flag these behaviors and mannerisms early on. For tips on how to communicate with children and adolescents about substance use, click here and here.

  • Early intervention that is effective and appropriate ensures the best possible health and safety outcomes for adolescents using substances.

    • iDECIDE has been developed to provide early intervention to adolescents caught using substances in school, and may also be used as a drug education curriculum. iDECIDE is an alternative to punitive responses to substance use and is adolescent-focused, supportive, empowering, equitable, and science-based.

    • If you are a teen seeking help for substance use, or for parents, teachers and other trusted, caring adults that have noticed warning signs or are concerned a teen is struggling with substance use, visit our Resource page or the SAMHSA National Helpline website for their free, confidential, treatment referral and information services line.

Please note, material on this site should never be used as a substitute for direct advice or medical care from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

• Substance use is often co-occurring with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, which sometimes may be associated with prior or existing trauma.

• According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 50% of adults with a substance use disorder also have a mental illness and over 60% of adolescents in community-based substance use disorder treatment programs also meet diagnostic criteria for another mental illness.

• When it is found that a young person is using alcohol or other drugs, an assessment for co-occurring mental health issues (and vice versa) is important to develop the most appropriate plan for each individual young person.²¹